Jakarta – ClientEarth, the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF), and RECOFTC Indonesia brought together representatives from all 11 ASEAN Member States for a regional workshop to strengthen social forestry governance across Southeast Asia.
The Regional Knowledge Sharing of ASEAN Guiding Principles for Effective Social Forestry Legal Frameworks (AGP) workshop, held in Jakarta on August 4–5, was hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry. The hybrid event focused on improving the effectiveness, transparency and inclusiveness of social forestry governance through the exchange of national experiences, policy approaches and practical solutions.
Participants discussed successes and challenges in implementing the AGP at the national level, including regulatory developments and practical obstacles faced by forestry agencies. The workshop sought to move the discussion beyond policy frameworks by identifying practical, replicable approaches to implementation.
The AGP was co-developed by ClientEarth, RECOFTC Indonesia and the AWG-SF in 2019. It provides a shared regional framework for strengthening the legal and institutional environment for social forestry and improving Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ access to social forestry schemes and participation in sustainable forest management.
The latest workshop builds on capacity-building initiatives supported by ClientEarth and RECOFTC Indonesia since 2019, including a 2024 regional workshop and a 2025 national training programme for Indonesian forest agencies.
ClientEarth and CPI sign MoU on energy transition
The social forestry workshop came shortly before ClientEarth signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding with Climate Policy Initiative Indonesia (CPI) on August 6 to advance renewable energy deployment and a just energy transition in Indonesia.
The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration on financing, law, policy, regulation and governance to support Indonesia’s goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2060.
Under the agreement, ClientEarth and CPI will assess regulatory frameworks, evaluate the financial implications of potential policy scenarios and develop evidence-based recommendations for policymakers. The partnership will also support research and analysis on renewable energy and just energy transition-related corporate finance and regulations, alongside workshops, seminars and other stakeholder engagement activities. (nsh)
Banner photo: ClientEarth, the ASEAN Working Group on Social Forestry (AWG-SF), and RECOFTC Indonesia organised a regional workshop to strengthen social forestry governance across Southeast Asia. (Source: ClientEarth)
