Indonesia's Forestry Ministry: Sustainable Forests Must Go Hand-in-Hand with Development and Welfare

Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) is committed to safeguarding the nation's natural landscapes and biodiversity, as highlighted during the 81st Indonesian Republic Independence Day celebrations. Ristianto Pribadi, Head of Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at Kemenhut, stated that forest preservation must proceed in tandem with development and improved community welfare.

"Forests must be sustainable, development must not stop, and the people will surely prosper. Forest management must be able to harmonize development interests, ecological justice, and tangible benefits for the community," Pribadi said in a written statement on Wednesday (August 19, 2026).

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Forests must be sustainable, development must not stop, and the people will surely prosper. Forest management must be able to harmonize development interests, ecological justice, and tangible benefits for the community

Under the theme "Sustainable Forest, Beautiful Environment, Prosperous People" and the tagline "Together We Protect Nature for an Advanced Indonesia," Kemenhut underscores the vital role of Indonesian forests. They serve as crucial regulators of water cycles, habitats for diverse species, and essential pillars supporting community livelihoods.

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the protection of forests cannot be separated from efforts to maintain the survival of biodiversity

The ministry featured iconic Indonesian wildlife, Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, and orangutans, to remind attendees that forest protection is inseparable from efforts to preserve biodiversity. Pribadi emphasized that protecting forests ensures the continuity of biodiversity and supports community well-being, safeguarding living spaces, resources, and the future for subsequent generations.

Kemenhut also clarified that its forest management policies are not intended to halt development. Instead, development should occur within a framework that respects environmental carrying capacity and ensures equitable benefits for communities. This message aligns with the environmental recovery calls from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLH) through its "Gerakan Indonesia ASRI" and "Ecological Repentance" movements, which promote waste management and green economy development.

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Preserving forests is an important part of ensuring the continuity of biodiversity as well as supporting community welfare. Protecting forests means protecting living space, resources, and the future for the next generation