Forestry Minister: Wana Lestari to Replicate Innovations for Forest Transformation

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni has said that the 2026 National Wana Lestari Award is given to heroes and champions of sustainability for forest transformation, so that their practices and innovations can be replicated.

“I hope Wana Lestari must be more than just an award. Take the best practices from the winners, we study them together and we apply or replicate them for the process of forest transformation and sustainability anywhere throughout Indonesia,” said Raja Juli in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister stressed that good practices in customary forest preservation need to be applied across all regions of Indonesia for the welfare of the community.

“If something succeeds in one place with a particular context, I think we can transform it to other places. Innovation for three things: first, of course, community welfare; then our ability to conserve biodiversity properly; and third, having consequences for reducing carbon emissions,” he said.

According to him, the winners become teachers for other regions and provide valuable learning for conservation efforts within the context and conditions of culture and landscape in each respective area.

On that occasion, Raja Juli Antoni also expressed his highest appreciation to the field workers who are currently battling forest and land fires in various regions of Indonesia, and bestowed upon them the title of heroes.

“There are still many other heroes out there, especially those who are now battling forest and land fires. A round of applause for all of them in the field, while of course we offer our prayers. We believe that hard work, systematic and technocratic work, is very important,” he said.

He also asked the public to join in praying that the forest and land fires currently affecting Indonesia can be overcome soon and do not cause many casualties.