Officials from Indonesia’s Environmental Fund Management Agency and Norway’s climate contribution project unit inspected 82.86 hectares of reforestation land in Hulu Sungai Tengah, South Kalimantan. The inspection, conducted as part of the FOLU Net Sink 2030 programme, evaluated tree survival and vegetation development to support Indonesia’s climate targets and emission reduction goals.
The inspection focused on replanted land across two villages. According to Antara, the FOLU Net Sink 2030 initiative aims to cut emissions from land use by restoring forests and improving ecosystem management.
Why are Indonesian and Norwegian officials inspecting South Kalimantan?
The joint field check was designed to monitor the progress of land rehabilitation. Teams assessed tree survival rates, growth, and overall vegetation development across the 82.86 hectares of inspected territory.
Alip Winarto, the Head of Watershed Management and Forest and Land Rehabilitation at the South Kalimantan Forestry Office, said the review ensures that forest and land rehabilitation activities comply with regulations. Winarto noted that determining plant survival rates is a “key indicator” of the programme’s achievements.
How does the project combine ecology with local livelihoods?
The reforestation strategy integrates environmental restoration with economic support for local residents. Farmers in the region are planting a mix of long-term trees and short-term crops to manage their income while the forest matures.
According to the South Kalimantan Forestry Office, the planted long-term trees include:
- Rubber
- Durian
- Mahogany
- Longan
To generate immediate income, farmers are also cultivating short-term crops such as chilies, tomatoes, and eggplants. Winarto stated that the initiative is intended to deliver sustainable benefits by improving land cover quality while allowing forest farmer groups in Hulu Sungai Tengah to earn additional income from these commodities.
What are the next steps for the reforestation sites?
The long-term success of the project relies on the continued management of the newly planted areas. Authorities expect that farmer groups involved in the later phases of the programme will continue to maintain the plantations.
This ongoing maintenance may ensure both long-term environmental gains and continued progress toward Indonesia’s established climate targets.