Collaboration Strengthens Sustainable Forest Management

Driven by the challenge of increasing global demand for forest products alongside the imperative to preserve the environment, collaboration among stakeholders is considered key to strengthening sustainable forest management. Amid projections that global demand for wood products will increase by more than 40 per cent by 2050 compared to 2020, the need to balance conservation efforts with the sustainable use of forest resources is becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (Ditjen PHL) of the Ministry of Forestry and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are strengthening cooperation to promote sustainable forest management while enhancing the long-term benefits of forests for communities and the environment. This commitment was realised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ditjen PHL and FSC on Tuesday (30/6). The agreement aims to strengthen synergy between Indonesia’s Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK) and FSC certification, to increase efficiency, strengthen forestry governance, and expand market access for Indonesian forest products. The MoU was signed by the Director General of Sustainable Forest Management at the Ministry of Forestry, Laksmi Wijayanti, and the Director General of FSC International, Subhra Bhattacharjee. The signing was also attended by government representatives, business actors, civil society organisations, certification bodies, industry associations, and various forestry sector stakeholders from Indonesia and abroad. Through this partnership, both parties will develop a joint audit mechanism between SVLK and FSC. This scheme allows two certification systems to be assessed simultaneously by one audit team in a single audit process, thereby saving time and costs, reducing process duplication, while maintaining the credibility and integrity of each system. The scope of cooperation also includes developing joint audits from the forest management level to exporters and importers, improving forest management performance, aligning remedy frameworks to support the Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target, enhancing human resource capacity, strengthening networks and promotion of sustainable forest management, exchanging data and market information, and expanding market access for Indonesian forest products that meet SVLK and FSC standards. Director General of Sustainable Forest Management Laksmi Wijayanti stated that the partnership is expected to strengthen synergy in improving Indonesia’s forestry governance while boosting the competitiveness of the national forestry sector in both domestic and international markets. FSC International Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee noted Indonesia’s strategic position in global forestry, citing its vast tropical forests, indigenous communities managing high-conservation-value landscapes, and significant potential to meet the growing demand for sustainably sourced forest products. Following the MoU signing, FSC and the Ministry of Forestry are scheduled to conduct a field visit to Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, to observe FSC-certified rattan management practices run by the Katingan Rattan Farmers Association (P2RK).