Jakarta, Indonesia – Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, has reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to environmental conservation and indigenous rights during his participation in the United for Wildlife Global Summit and High-Level Ministerial Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The event, held from November 2 to 4, 2025, brought together global leaders to address wildlife trafficking, biodiversity loss, and sustainable forest management. Minister Antoni highlighted Indonesia’s accelerated efforts to recognize indigenous forests, targeting up to 1.4 million hectares in the coming years, as a key step toward integrating traditional knowledge into national conservation strategies.
The summit, organized by the United for Wildlife initiative—a collaborative platform supported by international organizations including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and other global partners—focused on high-level discussions to combat illegal wildlife trade and promote ecosystem restoration. Minister Antoni’s address emphasized Indonesia’s proactive role in these international efforts, particularly in the context of the upcoming COP30 climate conference. He outlined how the recognition of indigenous territories not only safeguards biodiversity but also empowers local communities to manage resources sustainably, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on life on land (SDG 15) and climate action (SDG 13).
During the ministerial meeting, Minister Antoni engaged in bilateral discussions with representatives from Brazil, the host nation, and other member states to forge stronger partnerships against transboundary environmental threats. Indonesia, home to vast rainforests that serve as critical carbon sinks and habitats for endangered species like the Sumatran orangutan and Javan rhino, faces ongoing challenges from deforestation, illegal logging, and habitat encroachment. The minister stressed that accelerating indigenous forest recognition—through legal titling and community-based management—would mitigate these issues while respecting cultural heritage. This initiative builds on recent policy reforms under the Ministry of Forestry, including the expansion of social forestry programs that have already allocated over 5 million hectares to local and indigenous groups since 2014.
In his keynote, Minister Antoni detailed specific actions, such as mapping and verifying indigenous claims using advanced geospatial technologies in collaboration with international agencies like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. He announced that Indonesia aims to finalize recognition for an additional 1.4 million hectares by 2027, prioritizing areas in Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Papua where biodiversity hotspots overlap with ancestral lands. This move is expected to enhance carbon sequestration, reduce human-wildlife conflicts, and promote ecotourism as a viable economic alternative for communities.
The United for Wildlife Global Summit also featured sessions on financing conservation through carbon markets and green bonds, where Indonesia positioned itself as a leader in the Global South. Minister Antoni advocated for equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms that ensure indigenous peoples receive direct revenues from forest-based initiatives. He cited successful pilot projects in Indonesia, such as community-managed protected areas in the Leuser Ecosystem, which have demonstrated reduced deforestation rates by up to 30% when locals are involved in governance.
Environmental experts at the summit praised Indonesia’s approach, noting that empowering indigenous communities could prevent the loss of an additional 10% of global forest cover by 2030. However, challenges remain, including bureaucratic hurdles in land titling and conflicts with industrial interests. Minister Antoni called for increased technical assistance from international partners to streamline processes and build capacity among local stakeholders.
Upon returning to Jakarta, Minister Antoni instructed the Ministry’s directorates to integrate summit outcomes into national action plans. This includes updating the National Forest Management Strategy to incorporate indigenous perspectives more robustly. The ministry also plans to host regional workshops in early 2026 to disseminate best practices learned in Rio, fostering South-South cooperation with neighboring countries like Malaysia and the Philippines.
Indonesia’s participation underscores its growing influence in global environmental diplomacy. As the world’s third-largest rainforest holder, the country plays a pivotal role in international efforts to halt biodiversity decline. The commitments made in Rio signal a renewed focus on collaborative, inclusive conservation that balances ecological preservation with social equity.
Key aspects of this engagement include partnerships with international agencies to monitor progress via satellite imagery and on-ground assessments. The minister emphasized that such transparency will attract more funding from multilateral sources, including the Green Climate Fund, to support reforestation and anti-poaching efforts.
This development is particularly timely as Indonesia prepares for COP30 in 2025, where forest conservation will be a central agenda item. By accelerating indigenous rights, Indonesia aims to set a precedent for other tropical nations grappling with similar issues.
Indigenous Forests, Wildlife Summit, Forest Conservation, International Cooperation, Biodiversity Protection, Sustainable Management, Environmental Diplomacy
For more information, visit Ministry of Environment and Forestry.