Ecobiz.asia – Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is preparing to release Indonesia’s updated national blue-carbon dataset, a foundational component for developing marine-based carbon projects and ensuring alignment with the country’s emission-reduction commitments.
The announcement was delivered by Director General of Marine Spatial Management, Koswara, during the Carbon Digital Conference in Bandung, on Monday (Dec. 8, 2025)
Koswara explained that the ministry has completed the mapping and compilation of blue-carbon data covering mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral ecosystems.
This dataset, he said, will serve as the official baseline for assessing Indonesia’s marine carbon potential, determining restoration needs, and guiding investment decisions in the emerging blue-carbon market.
“We have launched maps and positional data for blue carbon from the marine sector. There are mangroves, seagrass, and coral included in the dataset. This information becomes the baseline that everyone must refer to,” he stated.
He noted that the publication of this dataset is essential for ensuring that blue-carbon activities are grounded in scientific evidence, credible measurement standards, and clear baselines. Without such data, he said, carbon-market activities risk diverging from the fundamental purpose of achieving measurable emission reductions.
The ministry intends for the data to improve transparency for investors, strengthen project credibility, and help identify areas requiring urgent rehabilitation.
Koswara highlighted the scale of ecosystem degradation revealed by the ministry’s assessment, pointing in particular to the dramatic decline of seagrass ecosystems.
Indonesia’s seagrass coverage, once about 1.8 million hectares, has fallen to around 800,000 hectares. He emphasized that this decline illustrates why the blue-carbon market must reward restoration rather than the mere valuation of existing conditions.
“The question is how we restore the seagrass to its previous extent. That is what becomes a carbon project, and that is what can be financed through carbon trading,” he said.
According to Koswara, the ministry has already completed its roadmap for blue-carbon implementation, including technical guidelines and action plans that will accompany the data release.
He stressed that these instruments provide the procedural foundation for project developers, investors, and local governments to follow. “Our technical regulations are already in place. We have the roadmap and the action guide,” he said.
Koswara reiterated that the publication of this national blue-carbon dataset supports Indonesia’s broader climate-policy agenda and ensures integrity within marine-based carbon markets regulated under Presidential Regulation No. 110/2025.
By issuing the official dataset, KKP aims to position Indonesia as a leader in scientifically robust, restoration-driven blue-carbon development, ensuring that carbon trading directly contributes to the recovery and long-term resilience of the nation’s marine ecosystems. ***
