Jakarta — Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry and the Forest Stewardship Council have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening sustainable forest management and expanding market access for Indonesian forestry products.
The agreement, signed on Tuesday, June 30, by Director General of Sustainable Forest Management at the Ministry of Forestry Laksmi Wijayanti and FSC Director General Subhra Bhattacharjee, seeks to align Indonesia’s Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK) with FSC certification standards.
The partnership is designed to improve forest governance, reduce certification costs, and enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian forest products in both domestic and global markets.
A key component of the MoU is the development of a joint audit mechanism between SVLK and FSC. The integrated system would allow multiple certification standards to be assessed simultaneously by a single audit team, reducing duplication and improving efficiency without compromising credibility.
The collaboration covers a broad range of initiatives, including joint audits from forest management to exporters and importers, capacity building, market data exchange, promotion of sustainable forestry, and efforts to support Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target.
Laksmi said the partnership reflects Indonesia’s commitment to ensuring responsible forest management while strengthening the forestry sector’s competitiveness.
“Indonesia is strongly committed to ensuring that its forest resources are managed sustainably and responsibly,” she said, adding that he hoped this cooperation would bring “tangible benefits for the environment, communities and forestry-based businesses.”
“We hope that the development of a joint audit mechanism between SVLK and FSC will promote improved forest governance and strengthen global market confidence in Indonesian forest products, which will ultimately create greater added value for sustainable forest managers in Indonesia,” said Laksmi.
Bhattacharjee said Indonesia plays a vital role in global forestry due to its vast tropical forests and position in international supply chains.
“This partnership between SVLK and FSC is a strategic move that reflects FSC’s global commitment to demonstrating the value and benefits of responsible forest management,” said Bhattacharjee. “Through the development of a joint SVLK-FSC audit mechanism, we are aligning existing efforts whilst creating broader economic opportunities for Indonesian forestry businesses to compete in both domestic and international markets.”
The agreement comes as global demand for wood products is projected to rise by more than 40% by 2050 compared with 2020 levels, increasing pressure to balance forest conservation with resource use.
Following the signing, ministry officials and FSC representatives are scheduled to visit Katingan Regency in Central Kalimantan to observe FSC-certified rattan management by the Perkumpulan Petani Rotan Katingan, highlighting how sustainable management of non-timber forest products can generate economic and social benefits while preserving ecosystems. (nsh)
Banner photo: (From left to right) Marc Jessel, Chief Engagement Officer of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); Ir. Laksmi Wijayanti, Director-General of Sustainable Forest Management, Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia; Subhra Bhattacharjee, Director-General of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) International; and Mahfudz, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, display the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Directorate-General of Sustainable Forest Management (Ditjen PHL), the Ministry of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), in Jakarta, on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. Source: FSC
