RI-Japan Agree to Manage Sustainable Forests to Carbon Trade

JAKARTA - Minister of Forestry (Menhut) Raja Juli Antoni said the Government of Indonesia and Japan agreed to encourage more concrete bilateral collaboration in the fields of forestry and climate, ranging from sustainable forest management efforts to carbon trading.

"The meeting (with Japanese government representatives) discussed strengthening cooperation in forestry, carbon investment, to animal conservation, including komodo," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Wednesday, April 1.

The strengthening of bilateral cooperation in the fields of forestry and climate was carried out by MenhutRaja Antoni as part of President Prabowo Subianto's state visit to Japan this week.

"In addition, cooperation is also directed at strengthening conservation areas, exchanging knowledge, and involving the private sector in the development of the carbon economy. Indonesia opens investment opportunities through the Carbon Economy Value (NEK) scheme and voluntary carbon trading," said Raja Antoni.

In a meeting with Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Suzuki Norikazu, Japan emphasized Indonesia as a strategic partner in the forestry sector.

Support is also provided through projects carried out together with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the assignment of experts from Japan to support the sustainable management of mangroves in Indonesia.

Menhut Raja Antoni also encouraged that cooperation be increased, including in the development of the World Mangrove Center and the implementation of the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) scheme.

"This initiative is expected to become a global bridge in the effort to rehabilitate, research, educate, and innovate mangrove ecosystem management, as well as an international reference in natural-based climate change mitigation and adaptation," he said.

Meanwhile, in a meeting with Japanese Minister of Environment Ishihara Hirotaka, he said he discussed strengthening conservation cooperation, including the loankomodo breeding program which cooperates with Shizuoka Prefecture.

Raja Antoni also proposed cooperation between the Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park and national parks in Indonesia. The scheme is expected to strengthen the management of conservation areas.

Furthermore, in a meeting with Japanese Minister of Growth Strategy Minoru Kiuchi, the two countries discussed strengthening cooperation in forestry and conservation more broadly.

One of the highlights is the plan to send komodo to Japan which is said to have high appeal for the local community.

"In addition, both parties also encourage the acceleration of the implementation of carbon cooperation through the JCM scheme and strengthen collaboration between national parks," said Raja Antoni.