London Climate Action Week 2026: Indonesia Introduces New Funding Sources for National Parks
The Indonesian government has affirmed its commitment to transforming its conservation approach from simply financing nature protection to making strategic investments for the future of sustainable development. Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni delivered this commitment during the high-level opening session on Nature and Finance at London Climate Action Week 2026 in London, England.
In his address, the Forestry Minister stressed that Indonesia views nature as a strategic national asset that forms the foundation of economic resilience, food security, water security, climate stability, and the welfare of future generations.
“Indonesia believes that nature is not just something to be protected, but is a development asset that must be managed and invested in sustainably. Therefore, we need to shift from the paradigm of financing conservation to investing in conservation,” said Raja Juli Antoni on Wednesday (24/6).
As a megabiodiverse country with one of the greatest biological riches in the world, Indonesia considers that conservation must be able to generate ecological, social, and economic benefits simultaneously. This approach aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s directive to strengthen natural resource protection while creating inclusive and sustainable development opportunities.
During the forum, the Forestry Minister introduced the establishment of the Presidential Task Force for Innovative Financing for National Parks, a strategic platform aimed at strengthening the protection and restoration of national parks, safeguarding rare and endangered species, and developing sustainable financing sources for conservation. The Task Force also supports Indonesia’s efforts to maintain important forest landscapes, preserve biodiversity, enhance ecosystem resilience, and support the achievement of sustainable development goals.
The Forestry Minister emphasised that conservation success cannot be separated from community involvement. The Indonesian government is committed to ensuring that indigenous peoples and local communities become key partners and beneficiaries in the management of conservation areas. “The knowledge, experience, and relationships that have been built over centuries between communities and nature are invaluable assets for achieving long-term conservation success,” he asserted.
To support this agenda, Indonesia has conducted various studies in a number of national parks to identify financing opportunities suited to their ecological characteristics, conservation priorities, and management capacities. Instruments currently being developed include carbon credits, biodiversity credits, species conservation bonds, ecotourism, debt-for-nature swaps, and various other innovative financing mechanisms.
Indonesia also introduced the “One Species, One Company” initiative, which aims to encourage private sector participation in supporting the protection of Indonesia’s iconic wildlife such as rhinos, orangutans, elephants, tigers, and birds of paradise.
Institutionally, the Indonesian government is strengthening conservation financing governance through the development of a Public Service Agency scheme for national park areas to increase financial management flexibility and ensure the long-term sustainability of conservation funding.
One of the main priorities currently being developed is the preparation of science-based investment prospectuses for thirteen priority national parks in Indonesia. These prospectuses are designed to demonstrate the real value of conservation areas through ecosystem services, biodiversity protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable tourism, watershed protection, and community development.
Through this approach, Indonesia seeks to translate conservation outcomes into credible, transparent, and replicable investment opportunities on a wider scale.
Closing his remarks, the Forestry Minister invited all global stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in closing the world’s still very large conservation funding gap. “No single country can close the global nature financing gap alone. Collective action, innovative partnerships, and shared responsibility are needed. Indonesia invites governments, development agencies, philanthropic organisations, financial institutions, and private investors to jointly build a conservation financing model that is practical, measurable, and has real impact,” he said.
Indonesia affirmed its readiness to become a strategic partner in developing global nature financing solutions by offering world-class natural resource wealth, policy innovation, and a strong commitment to measurable conservation outcomes.