Indonesia Pushes 100 ‘Payment for Nature’ Projects by 2026 to Save Degraded Land
Indonesia is launching a massive push to restore its damaged ecosystems by combining indigenous wisdom, bamboo planting, and a new "ecological repentance" law, with a target of 100 payment-for-nature projects by 2026.
The Indonesian government is rolling out a multi-pronged strategy to heal degraded land and forests, tapping into traditional knowledge, community-led programs, and financial incentives. The Environment Ministry has announced plans to expand its payment for ecosystem services (PES) program, aiming to launch 100 new schemes by 2026 [174656]. Under PES, landowners and communities receive money for protecting nature, including forests, rivers, and wildlife habitats, which helps reduce deforestation and boost rural incomes [174656].
To accelerate restoration on the ground, Environment Minister Moh. Jumhur Hidayat launched a national bamboo planting movement on Sunday. Bamboo, a fast-growing plant that prevents soil erosion and improves water retention, is being planted across thousands of hectares of critical and unproductive land [172896]. The initiative is a low-cost, practical solution that also provides economic benefits through the use of bamboo for construction, furniture, and crafts [172896].
In a parallel effort, the Environment Ministry is turning to indigenous communities for help in restoring damaged land. Officials say traditional knowledge offers effective solutions for land degradation, combining modern environmental goals with centuries-old land management techniques [174626]. This community-led approach aims to make restoration more sustainable by directly involving native groups who have a deep understanding of local ecosystems [174626].
The government is also drafting a new law called "ecological repentance," a legal framework requiring communities and companies to restore damaged ecosystems [172339]. The proposed law would mandate specific actions to heal forests, rivers, and coastal areas, shifting the focus from punishing polluters to actively repairing ecological damage [172339]. This builds on the Ministry of Forestry’s declaration of social forestry as a strategic pillar for economic justice, which gives local communities legal rights to manage forest areas, reducing poverty while preserving the land [171572].