Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Forestry has projected that its proposed 2026 budget ceiling of Rp6.039 trillion (approx. US$367.8 million) will be able to drive investment absorption of up to Rp21 trillion (US$1.28 billion).
Minister of Forestry Raja Juli Antoni, in his statement in Jakarta on Sunday, said the 2026 budget proposal reflects an increase of Rp1.105 trillion (US$67.3 million) compared to the 2026 Indicative Ceiling and is aligned with the government’s efforts to accelerate forestry development policy.
“One of the priorities includes forest protection as the lungs of the planet and a regulator of water systems, including forest rehabilitation and wildfire control,” he said.
The 2026 budget is also expected to generate the creation of over 400,000 jobs while contributing to the national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent from the forestry sector.
Antoni emphasized the ministry’s commitment to equitable forest governance by providing community access to forest management, streamlining permit regulations, and the use of forests to support food and energy security through the development of agroforestry, multi-business forestry, and the downstreaming of forest products.
In addition, the ministry also plans to ensure the full implementation of the One Map Policy to reduce land conflicts and to continue digitizing forestry services as part of governance modernization.
Furthermore, Minister Antoni explained the additional budget for personnel and non-operational spending, allocated to support presidential priority programs.
“This is to support the President’s priority programs, including agroforestry (as mandated by Presidential Regulation No. 12/2025), forest area regularization and ecosystem restoration (Presidential Regulation No. 5/2025), forest rehabilitation, wildfire suppression, and operations of state vocational schools in forestry,” he explained.
The Ministry’s 2026 Work Plan and Budget will be submitted to the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee for synchronization.
Meanwhile, Commission IV of the DPR RI has called on the Ministry to ensure that its 2026 programs focus on efforts to preserve, protect, and secure forests; empower and improve the welfare of communities living in and around forest areas; and make a tangible contribution to sustainable forest development.
“Officials destroyed illegal oil palm plantations in the area during the period of September 1–10, 2025, in Gunung Leuser National Park, Aceh. (ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Forestry).
