Government's Grand Plan to Make National Parks Green Money-Making Machines
JAKARTA — A humid morning shrouded the courtyard of the forestry office in Jakarta as forest rangers gathered to commemorate the 43rd National Forester’s Day. Amidst an atmosphere steeped in reflection on forests, wildlife, and environmental futures, one pressing question resurfaced: how to preserve Indonesia’s national parks in the face of limited state budgets.
Indonesia is home to 57 national parks spread across the archipelago from Sabang to Merauke, serving as habitats for thousands of plant and animal species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, maintaining these areas is no simple task. To date, national park management has remained heavily dependent on the State Budget (APBN).
Deputy Minister of Forestry Rohmat Marzuki stated that the government is seeking new approaches to ensure conservation area management does not rest solely on state funds. One option under consideration is an alternative financing scheme, including carbon trading mechanisms.
According to Rohmat, international financing potential through carbon mechanisms could become an important funding source, particularly for greening activities such as afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation (ARR).
“We need alternative funding mechanisms, not only from the state budget, for example through international financing via carbon trading schemes,” he said following the National Forester’s Day ceremony in Jakarta.
This step forms part of a new approach the government is preparing to strengthen national park management. Previously, Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni announced the establishment of a Task Force for Innovation in Financing and National Park Management.
The task force is led by Hashim Djojohadikusumo, with support from several figures, including economist Mari Elka Pangestu. The government hopes this new approach can unlock more sustainable funding opportunities whilst strengthening conservation area governance.
In a meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace, Raja Juli explained that the task force would be established through a presidential decree and presidential instruction to be issued shortly.
The government believes that innovative financing approaches are necessary so that national parks function not only as conservation areas but also become centres for sustainable eco-tourism development.
According to Raja Juli, the budget available for national park management has been relatively limited. The Directorate General handling national parks even manages a budget that ranks among the smallest compared with other units within the ministry.
For this reason, the government is beginning to encourage private sector involvement and various new funding sources. The hope is that Indonesia’s national parks can develop into world-class conservation areas: forests remain protected, wildlife remains safeguarded, and surrounding communities benefit economically.