Indonesia, Japan strengthen cooperation on forest-based carbon project

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Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia and Japan have moved to strengthen cooperation in forest-based decarbonization through the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), aiming to develop high-integrity carbon projects, accelerate ecosystem restoration, protect biodiversity, and improve community welfare.

Indonesian Deputy Forestry Minister Rohmat Marzuki advanced the initiative during a meeting with Japan’s Environment Deputy Minister Hiroshi Ono on the sidelines of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday (November 9).

According to a statement received here on Tuesday, Marzuki emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to linking forestry carbon projects with community welfare through international partnerships such as the JCM, in line with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

He said the commitment is reflected in a four-pronged strategy for forestry carbon development. The strategy includes restoring 12 million hectares of degraded land through the Carbon Removal Project and preventing deforestation across 50 million hectares through the Carbon Avoidance Project.

Marzuki also highlighted efforts to integrate carbon projects with Indonesia’s social forestry program, which covers 8.3 million hectares, and to develop 1.4 million hectares of customary forests. He stressed that the commitment must be translated into concrete, credible, and methodologically sound projects, supported by effective environmental and social safeguards and meaningful public participation.

The deputy minister further underscored the importance of incorporating peatland and mangrove ecosystems into the JCM to strengthen Indonesia’s contribution to global climate action. He also highlighted opportunities for cooperation through Japan’s Green Transformation (GX) Emissions Trading System.

He said the Forestry Ministry was keen to work with the Japanese government to develop and supply high-integrity carbon credits from nature-based projects in Indonesia.

In this regard, Marzuki said the JCM was expected to help link Japan’s target of securing carbon credits equivalent to 100 million tons of CO₂ by 2030 with Indonesia’s ecosystem recovery agenda.

He added that Indonesia sought to leverage the approach to maximize the benefits of foreign investment, not only for climate change mitigation but also for ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and livelihood support.