Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry and Japan's MAFF Promote Carbon Investment and Mangrove Management
Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni held a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Suzuki Norikazu. This meeting formed part of President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to further enhance bilateral relations between Indonesia and Japan.
In a statement received (31/3), Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) affirmed that Indonesia is a strategic partner for the Japanese government, particularly in the forestry sector. MAFF expressed its commitment to continue supporting various initiatives for managing Indonesia’s tropical forests, especially through projects coordinated by JICA.
As a concrete form of this support, in April 2026, MAFF will assign two experts to assist with the implementation of a JICA project on sustainable mangrove management in Indonesia.
Additionally, MAFF hopes for support from the Ministry of Forestry in implementing the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) scheme in the forestry sector as part of joint efforts in climate change mitigation.
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni expressed appreciation for the long-standing and productive cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, particularly through various JICA projects in the forestry sector. The Minister views this cooperation as an important foundation for strengthening sustainable forest management and addressing global climate change challenges.
Menhut also invited MAFF to jointly enhance quality through JICA projects, as part of strengthening the World Mangrove Center initiative. This initiative is expected to serve as a global bridge in efforts for rehabilitation, research, education, and innovation in mangrove ecosystem management, while also becoming an international reference for nature-based mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Furthermore, the Minister of Forestry encouraged the involvement of the Japanese private sector to invest in Indonesia’s carbon economy, particularly through afforestation and reforestation activities, including in national park areas. This aligns with opportunities for implementing the Voluntary Carbon Market following the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 110 of 2025 on the Organisation of Carbon Economic Value (NEK) and National Greenhouse Gas Emission Control.
This bilateral meeting reaffirms the strong commitment of both countries to continue strengthening strategic cooperation in the forestry sector, while making tangible contributions to global efforts to address climate change through nature-based solutions.