13 National Parks Targeted for Financial Independence by 2030

Indonesia is moving towards inclusive and sustainable nature-based conservation financing, according to Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni. The country is developing a new approach to conservation management that will no longer depend entirely on public funding, but instead open up space for credible, high-integrity investment that delivers real benefits for communities, nature and the climate. “Indonesia is not just formulating a financing strategy. We are building a new paradigm of conservation governance, where national parks achieve financial independence, communities become primary partners, the private sector plays a meaningful role, and the state provides a strong regulatory framework to ensure all mechanisms run accountably and sustainably,” he stated. Following President Prabowo Subianto’s direction, Indonesia has established a Task Force for Innovative Financing for National Park Management and Iconic Species Conservation. The task force targets at least 13 national parks and two iconic species conservation landscapes to reach a level of financial independence by 2030. To achieve this target, Indonesia is implementing a dual strategy of regulatory reform and institutional strengthening, while also mobilising investment through the development of innovative financial instruments and strategic partnerships. The country is also introducing the concept of “Natural Ecosystems as a New Asset Class”, an approach that views natural ecosystems as strategic assets capable of generating sustainable economic benefits while maintaining their ecological functions. Instruments being developed include carbon credits, biodiversity credits, species bonds, ecotourism, bioprospecting, non-timber forest product utilisation, and various public-private partnership schemes. This approach is expected to open new investment opportunities that support conservation while improving the welfare of surrounding communities. As a key pilot project, Indonesia introduced the Peusangan Elephant Conservation Initiative in Aceh, designed to demonstrate that wildlife protection, habitat connectivity, and community economic development can be integrated within a single conservation landscape. The Minister invited global investment communities, development partners, and philanthropic organisations to collaborate in supporting Indonesia’s conservation financing transformation.