Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services from Indonesia’s Remaining Forests

Abstract

With 120 million hectares of forest area, Indonesia has the third largest area of biodiversity-rich tropical forests in the world, and it is well-known as a mega-biodiversity country. However, in 2020, only 70 percent of this area remained forested. The government has consistently undertaken corrective actions to achieve Sustainable Development Goal targets, with a special focus on Goals #1 (no poverty), #2 (zero hunger), #3 (good health and well-being), #7 (affordable and clean energy), #8 (decent work and economic growth), #13 (climate action), and #15 (life on land). Good environmental governance is a core concept in Indonesia’s forest management and includes mainstreaming ecosystem services as a framework for sustainable forest management. This paper analyzes efforts to mainstream Indonesia’s remaining forest ecosystem services. We review the state of Indonesia’s forests in relation to deforestation dynamics, climate change, and ecosystem service potential and options and provide recommendations for mainstreaming strategies regarding aspects of policy, planning, and implementation, as well as the process of the articulation of ecosystem services and their alternative funding.

Estimation of tree biomass and carbon stock in the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, North Sulawesi

“…Indonesia is determined to achieve a FoLU Net Sink in 2030 through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to significantly reduce Green House Gasses (GHG) emission from various sectors. Among the designated sectors, forestry has the largest responsibility indicating that better maintenance of the forest ecosystem then the more realistic target for Indonesia to reach the net zero emission target in 2060 or sooner [1,2].…”

Indonesian threatened Zingiberaceae: Exploring their potential traditional and modern uses

“…The country's vast archipelago has created isolated habitats for flora and fauna to evolve independently, leading to the formation of new species. The large number of islands also offers different ecosystems, ranging from rainforests, savannas, coral reefs, and mangroves, resulting in high biodiversity [2,3]. This unique geographical feature of Indonesia has resulted in the formation of hotspot areas for endemic species, particularly in the Wallacea region [2], Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua [3].…”

“…The large number of islands also offers different ecosystems, ranging from rainforests, savannas, coral reefs, and mangroves, resulting in high biodiversity [2,3]. This unique geographical feature of Indonesia has resulted in the formation of hotspot areas for endemic species, particularly in the Wallacea region [2], Kalimantan, Sumatra, and Papua [3]. Wallacea which lies between the Asian and Australian continents, has been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot, with a high degree of endemism [4].…”

“…Papua's isolation from other regions has allowed it to develop its own set of endemic species. The island's rich and unique biodiversity has attracted many researchers and naturalists, making it one of the most studied regions in the world [3]. Despite the rich biodiversity, Indonesia is also facing several environmental challenges that threaten its endemic species.…”

“…Despite the rich biodiversity, Indonesia is also facing several environmental challenges that threaten its endemic species. Deforestation, illegal logging, and forest fires are among the leading causes of habitat destruction, affecting the country's endemic species [6,3].…”