Indonesia's Forestry Minister urges joint push to restore ecosystems

“Today, I am launching the Simultaneous Ecosystem Restoration Movement to mark National Nature Conservation Day 2026. Together, right now, we are taking action to restore our ecosystems,” Antoni said Monday.

He said the condition of Indonesia’s ecosystems requires serious intervention and can no longer be addressed through conventional approaches.

The urgency reflects this year’s National Nature Conservation Day theme, “Working Together to Care for Nature,” which the minister said demonstrates a commitment to concrete ecosystem restoration.

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Antoni said President Prabowo Subianto supports the restoration drive and has committed to restoring 12 million hectares of degraded land. Of that, 6.7 million hectares are in forest zones and 1.21 million in conservation areas.

Addressing misconceptions about ecotourism, Antoni said the government continues to prioritize ecological protection over tourism development.

“At its core, this is for ecology, for nature, and for restoration. We need to engage the private sector that thinks creatively and keeps sustainability front and center,” Antoni said.

He called for cooperation on blended finance and carbon trading, as well as additional forest rangers, to help restore Indonesia’s extensive forest areas.

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“We must humbly admit that as policymakers and regulators, the state has its limits—whether in terms of funding or human resources,” he said.

Translator: Arnidhya Nur, Raka Adji