Ecobiz.asia – Indonesia has joined the Forest and Climate Leaders’ Partnership (FCLP), a voluntary international coalition seeking to strengthen the role of forests in global climate action, opening opportunities for cooperation on forest carbon markets, land tenure and tropical peatland and mangrove management.
Indonesia’s membership was announced at the Indonesia Pavilion during the UN climate conference COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, on Thursday (Nov. 13, 2026).
Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki represented the government at the announcement, which was attended by Guyana Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo, the FCLP Secretariat director and representatives of member countries. A video message from Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni was also shown.
Rohmat outlined three priority areas for Indonesia’s engagement with the partnership. The first is strengthening high-integrity forest carbon markets by connecting credible demand for carbon credits with verified emissions reductions.
He said such cooperation would require national authorization, transparency and safeguards against double counting to ensure the integrity of carbon transactions.
The second priority is strengthening tenure security over forests and land, including recognition of customary forests. Rohmat said international support for this agenda should be aligned with Indonesia’s legal framework and accountable national financing mechanisms.
The third area involves knowledge exchange and technical cooperation through the International Tropical Peatland Center (ITPC) and the World Mangrove Center. Indonesia also plans to hold technical sessions in 2027 to advance cooperation in these areas.
Indonesia manages around 13 million hectares of tropical peatland and 3.4 million hectares of mangroves, Rohmat said, highlighting the country’s experience in managing these ecosystems as a basis for international cooperation.
Indonesia also seeks greater international recognition of its timber legality and sustainability verification system, known as the Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK), as part of efforts to promote sustainable timber trade.
“Practical cooperation, grounded in national ownership, can deliver long-term benefits for forests, communities and the climate,” Rohmat said.
He added that relevant Indonesian officials would follow up with the FCLP Secretariat to discuss cooperation on peatland and mangrove management, land tenure and forestry financing.
Launched at COP27 in Egypt in November 2022, the FCLP is a voluntary partnership established to accelerate implementation of the Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use, which aims to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030.
The partnership currently comprises 42 countries and the European Union. Its agenda includes mobilising forest finance, strengthening forest carbon markets, recognising the land rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and promoting sustainable timber use. Guyana and the United Kingdom serve as its co-chairs.
Jagdeo welcomed Indonesia’s participation, saying forests were increasingly important to global priorities beyond climate mitigation, including biodiversity protection, rainfall regulation and agricultural sustainability.
“I would like to thank Indonesia for becoming part of the FCLP,” Jagdeo said, also acknowledging Indonesia’s contributions to international forestry initiatives. ***
