Government Accelerates the Restoration of Degraded Forest Ecosystems

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry is accelerating the recovery of degraded forest ecosystems in Indonesia thru the Simultaneous Ecosystem Recovery Movement. The program is part of the government's commitment to restoring 12 million hectares of critical land, including 6.7 million hectares in forest areas and 1.21 million hectares in conservation areas.

Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, said that the ecosystem restoration movement is a serious step by the government to improve the condition of Indonesia's forests and biodiversity.

"Now we are starting to move toward ecosystem restoration. We are not blaming the past, but the fact is we are facing our forests like this, our biodiversity like this. We now indeed have to seriously move toward ecosystem restoration," he said in Jakarta, Monday, August 10, 2026.

The Minister said that the effort received support from President Prabowo Subianto, who is committed to restoring 12 million hectares of critical land. Of that total, approximately 6.7 million hectares are located in forest areas, and 1.21 million hectares of it are conservation areas.

The Minister also emphasized that the utilization of conservation areas must prioritize ecological interests. The government also encourages private sector involvement in the management of these areas with sustainability principles.

"Ecotourism is sometimes misunderstood as us exploiting our national parks, commercializing them. I say this is not, this is ecological before tourism. The essence is that this is actually for ecology, for nature, for restoration," he said.

He mentioned the limitations of the country's capabilities, both in terms of funding and human resources, to restore such vast forest conditions. Therefore, the Ministry of Forestry opened up opportunities for collaboration with innovative funding schemes (blended finance), carbon trading, and the addition of forest police personnel.