Indonesia Approves First Group of Forest Carbon Projects

PUM invited to showcase progress of PLUM Project  

6 July 2026 marked a watershed moment for Indonesia’s carbon market. On this date, Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry granted the first Ministerial Approvals for Carbon Credit Issuance to domestic forestry carbon projects [1] under the country’s new regulatory framework. The Ministry also officially inaugurated the Indonesian Forestry Carbon Hub, a new collaboration platform designed to connect public and private sector stakeholders in support of implementing Indonesia's forestry carbon market.

The event brought together the President’s Special Envoy for Energy and Climate, senior representatives from government ministries and agencies, ambassadors, developers, and other stakeholders from across Indonesia’s carbon market ecosystem.

These developments mark the transition from regulatory design to market implementation. By issuing the first Ministerial Approvals, the Ministry has established the regulatory pathway for forestry carbon projects registered under recognized international standards to participate in both domestic and international carbon markets. This represents a significant step toward integrating Indonesia’s national carbon governance framework with international voluntary carbon markets while maintaining sovereign oversight of the country’s forest carbon resources.

Beyond the approvals themselves, the launch of the Indonesian Forestry Carbon Hub signals Indonesia’s ambition to become a leading global supplier of high-integrity forest carbon credits. 

Showcasing Integrated Peatland and Mangrove Conservation

As one of several project developers invited to exhibit at the inaugural Indonesian Forestry Carbon Hub, the PLUM Project showcased its integrated approach to peatland and mangrove conservation and restoration. The exhibition highlighted how high-integrity carbon projects can simultaneously deliver climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable economic development for local communities.

Through a collection of photographs, videos, and project materials, visitors were introduced to the scale and diversity of the PLUM landscape, including its peat swamp forests, mangrove ecosystems, community engagement programmes, biodiversity monitoring, and conservation activities. The exhibition provided government officials, investors, and other stakeholders with a tangible view of how large-scale nature-based climate solutions are implemented on the ground.

Supporting Sustainable Livelihoods

A central feature of the exhibition was the display of products produced by community groups from villages within the project zone, illustrating how conservation can create lasting economic opportunities alongside environmental outcomes.

These included Liberica coffee cultivated by local farmer cooperatives, snacks and chips produced by women’s enterprises, and a range of locally sourced products such as forest honey and fish floss.

These products demonstrate the PLUM Project’s broader approach to community development—supporting sustainable local enterprises that reduce pressure on forest resources while strengthening household incomes and community resilience.

Participation in the launch of the Indonesian Forestry Carbon Hub provided an important opportunity to demonstrate how the PLUM Project aligns with Indonesia’s emerging carbon market architecture. More broadly, it reinforced the role of high-quality nature-based carbon projects as platforms for delivering multiple outcomes: climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive rural development.

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[1] Sumatra Merang Peatland Project, Katingan Mentaya Peatland Restoration and Conservation Project, The Mayas Project, and Bujang Raba Project