Forestry Minister Pushes for Restoration of 12 Million Hectares of Critical Land, Engaging Private Sector and Carbon Trading

Indonesia's Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, is spearheading an accelerated effort to restore 12 million hectares of damaged forests and ecosystems across the nation. This ambitious target is being pursued through the launch of the "Gerakan Pemulihan Ekosistem Serentak" (Synchronized Ecosystem Restoration Movement), coinciding with National Nature Conservation Day 2026.

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Today I am launching the Synchronized Ecosystem Restoration Movement in commemoration of National Nature Conservation Day 2026. Together, we are now starting to move to carry out the ecosystem restoration movement.

Antoni highlighted the critical need for a more serious approach to Indonesia's ecosystem health, stating that current challenges demand a departure from previous restoration methods. The movement aligns with the national day's theme, "Working Together to Care for Nature," underscoring the necessity of broad participation beyond government efforts. President Prabowo Subianto's administration supports this policy, committing to the restoration of degraded land, with a significant portion located within forest areas and conservation zones.

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I think the momentum is right with the theme that was offered, that we must now seriously move to carry out ecosystem restoration.

The extensive scale of restoration required necessitates a long-term strategy that goes beyond mere tree planting. The focus is on enabling degraded ecosystems to fully resume their ecological functions. In conservation areas, Antoni addressed concerns about tourism development, asserting that national parks are not solely for commercial interests. The principle of "ecological before tourism" guides management, ensuring that ecological preservation and restoration remain the primary objectives, with tourism activities supporting these goals rather than compromising them.

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Ecotourism is sometimes misunderstood that we are exploiting our national parks, commercializing them. I say this is not the case; this is ecological before tourism.