Ecobiz.asia — Indonesia and South Korea have signed two strategic forestry cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening collaboration on sustainable forest management and forest fire mitigation.
The agreements were signed in Seoul on April 1, 2026, by Indonesia’s Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Korea Forest Service (KFS) Minister Park Eunsik, as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s state visit to South Korea.
The first agreement, a Framework Arrangement on Cooperation on Priority Program in Forestry, will serve as an umbrella for bilateral collaboration in areas including sustainable forest management, mangrove and peatland rehabilitation, ecotourism development, social forestry, and forest carbon market development.
The second agreement focuses on forest fire management and post-fire restoration, covering prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts, supported by advanced technologies such as satellite-based monitoring and capacity building.
“Korea Forest Service considers Indonesia its most strategic partner in forestry cooperation,” Park said, noting that Korea’s only overseas forestry representative office is located at its embassy in Jakarta.
Park added that forest fire management remains a top priority for South Korea, with KFS currently operating 55 firefighting helicopters supported by 755 personnel, along with additional resources from military, police, and emergency units.
He also revealed plans to launch a forest fire monitoring satellite in September 2026 capable of real-time observation, covering up to 55% of Indonesia’s territory.
Raja Juli welcomed the cooperation, saying it would strengthen Indonesia’s preparedness in tackling forest and land fires, particularly amid projections of an El Niño event in mid-2026.
“This cooperation is highly relevant, especially as we anticipate increased fire risks due to El Niño expected in June 2026,” he said.
Both countries agreed to advance implementation through knowledge and technology exchange, joint project development, training programs, and institutional collaboration under a Joint Consultation Committee.
The agreements build on more than four decades of Indonesia–South Korea forestry cooperation and are expected to enhance both countries’ roles in regional and global climate initiatives. ***
