RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia used the 48th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea (July 19–29, 2026) to highlight its commitment to protecting natural World Heritage sites while advancing global conservation diplomacy. The country’s focus centered on two key properties: Lorentz National Park in Papua and the Tropical Rainforest Heritage of Sumatra (TRHS).

Led by Director of Socio-Cultural Affairs, Ary Aprianto, and Strategic Partnerships at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesian delegation included representatives from the Ministry of Forestry, the Ministry of Culture, UNESCO, and technical experts. Their participation underscored Indonesia’s role as a megabiodiversity nation determined to safeguard areas of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), as quoted on the Ministry of Forestry's website, on Sunday, July 26, 2026.

For Lorentz National Park, Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment through the completion of the 2021–2030 Management Plan and ongoing ecosystem rehabilitation. By 2024, rehabilitation targets of 120 hectares were fully achieved, bringing the cumulative total to 325 hectares -- around 64 percent of the area requiring restoration. Local communities have been actively involved, ensuring conservation efforts also support livelihoods.

On TRHS, Indonesia presented a proposal for Significant Boundary Modification (SBM) aimed at strengthening ecological integrity. The plan includes adding high-value conservation habitats, improving connectivity, and establishing a buffer zone of 427,759 hectares.

This approach shifts the focus from size alone to ecological quality, habitat connectivity, and effective protection. The proposal will undergo an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) evaluation mission in October 2026, with a decision expected at the 49th World Heritage Committee session in 2027.

Indonesia also engaged in bilateral talks with South Korea, which shared its experience in modifying the boundaries of the Getbol Korean Tidal Flats World Heritage Site. Technical cooperation was offered to support Indonesia’s conservation management and capacity building.

These initiatives align with Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 agenda, which emphasizes forest cover protection, ecosystem restoration, and carbon sequestration. Through international diplomacy, Indonesia is positioning itself as a global leader in conservation, balancing biodiversity protection, climate action, and community welfare. ***

https://www.kehutanan.go.id/news/sidang-komite-warisan-dunia-indonesia-tegaskan-komitmen-jaga-lorentz-dan-hutan-hujan-sumatra