Ecobiz.asia — The South Barito Kapuas (SBK) Forest Carbon Project in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, has completed validation and verification under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), marking a major step toward the issuance of carbon credits from one of Indonesia’s large-scale forest conservation projects.
The validation was completed in February 2025, followed by verification in May 2026 by RINA Services S.p.A., a Verra-accredited Validation and Verification Body (VVB). The audit confirmed the generation of approximately 4 million Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) from blended 2022–2025 vintages.
The South Barito Kapuas Project (VCS4782) covers 39,835 hectares of peatland and dryland forest across the South Barito and Kapuas regencies in Central Kalimantan.
The project focuses on preventing deforestation and ecosystem degradation through peatland rewetting, hydrological restoration, fire prevention, and sustainable livelihood programs.
Neo Terra Resources Pte. Ltd., the strategic consultant behind the project, said the completion of validation and verification reflects years of fieldwork and collaboration with project proponent PT Nusantara Raya Solusi (PT NRS).
“The completion of validation and verification by RINA marks a defining milestone for the South Barito Kapuas Project and for Neo Terra’s long-term commitment to developing high-integrity forest carbon projects in Indonesia,” said Mayang Pratiwi, CEO of the SBK Project in a press statement as quoted on Saturday (May 23, 2026),
As previously announced in January 2026, the project received a BeZero Carbon ex-ante rating of A.pre, with a “Very Low” project execution risk assessment and an “aaa” additionality score, strengthening its credibility in international carbon markets.
RINA Services said the assessment was conducted in accordance with applicable validation and verification requirements based on documentation, evidence, and site-level audit findings.
“The project now awaits registration and issuance by Verra,” said Alok Kumar, Head of India Certification at RINA Services S.p.A.
The project is also progressing through the final stages of authorization with the Indonesian government under the memorandum of understanding between Verra and Indonesia.
PT NRS stated that the VCUs referenced in the announcement have not yet been officially issued and remain subject to Verra’s final review process.
Beyond emissions reductions, the project is expected to support social and economic opportunities for more than 15,000 people across 10 villages surrounding the forest area. ***
