Jakarta. Forests and their rich biodiversity are essential to millions of people around the world, providing food, livelihoods, and vital support for human health and well-being. As global demand for wood products is projected to increase by more than 40% by 2050 compared to 2020 levels, the need to balance conservation and utilization of forest resources becomes increasingly critical. Therefore, protecting forest ecosystems while ensuring their sustainable use are not competing objectives, but complementary goals that are deeply interconnected and mutually dependent.  

Recognizing the importance of this balance, the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (Ditjen PHL) of the Ministry of Forestry and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) are strengthening their collaboration to advance sustainable forest management and enhance the long-term benefits forests provide to people and the planet.  

As part of this commitment, the Directorate General of Sustainable Forest Management (Ditjen PHL) under Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen sustainable forest management through enhanced collaboration and greater synergy between Indonesia’s Timber Legality and Sustainable Assurance System (SVLK) and FSC certification.

The collaboration is expected to improve efficiency, strengthen forest governance, and enhance market opportunities for Indonesian forest products. The MoU was signed by Director General of Sustainable Forest Management at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, Laksmi Wijayanti, and Director General of FSC International, Subhra Bhattacharjee. The ceremony was attended by representatives from government, business, civil society organizations, certification bodies, industry associations, and forestry stakeholders from Indonesia and abroad.

Through this partnership, Ditjen PHL aims to strengthen forest governance in Indonesia by developing a combined audit mechanism between SVLK and FSC. A combined audit allows two or more management systems to be assessed at the same time by a single audit team, saving time and resources and avoiding duplication, without compromising the credibility of either system.  

The scope of this MoU covers the development of integrated audit mechanisms spanning the entire supply chain, from forests to exporters and importers; the enhancement of forest management performance; the alignment of remedy frameworks to support the achievement of Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target; capacity building for human resources; the strengthening of networks and the promotion of sustainable forest management; the exchange of market data and information; and the expansion of market access for Indonesian forest products that comply with SVLK and FSC standards.

The collaboration reflects both parties' shared commitment to improving forest governance, reducing certification costs and complexity, and enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesian forest products in domestic and international markets.  

Laksmi Wijayanti said the partnership is expected to strengthen synergy in improving Indonesia’s forest governance while boosting the competitiveness of its forestry sector in both domestic and global markets.

“Indonesia is firmly committed to ensuring the sustainable and responsible management of its forest resources. Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen synergies between national and international approaches to sustainable forest management, delivering real benefits for the environment, communities, and forest-based businesses. We expect the development of a combined audit mechanism between SVLK and FSC to drive improvements in forest governance and strengthen global market confidence in Indonesian forest products, ultimately creating greater value for sustainable forest managers across the country,” said Laksmi.

Director General of FSC International, Subhra Bhattacharjee, noted that the collaboration can contribute to the long-term viability of Indonesia’s forests, including its natural forests. “This partnership marks a strategic step that reflects FSC’s global commitment to demonstrating the value and benefits of responsible forest management. Indonesia holds a unique place in our global strategy, with its vast tropical forests, Indigenous communities stewarding landscapes of immense cultural significance, and strong potential to meet the growing global demand for sustainably sourced forest products.

As buyers worldwide increasingly require deforestation-free supply chains, Indonesian producers that cannot demonstrate legality, traceability, and responsible forest management risk losing access to key markets that support the economic viability of sustainable forestry. Through the development of the SVLK–FSC combined audit mechanism, we are streamlining our efforts while creating broader economic opportunities for Indonesian forestry businesses to strengthen their competitiveness in both domestic and international markets. This collaboration reinforces our shared commitment to ensuring that sustainable forest management delivers tangible environmental, social, and economic benefits for Indonesia,” said Subhra.

This collaboration is expected to benefit a wide range of stakeholders, from forest managers and processing industries to exporters, importers, certification bodies, and communities whose livelihoods depend on forest resources.

As market demand grows for responsibly sourced products, the strengthened synergy between SVLK and FSC is expected to improve efficiency, expand market opportunities, and reinforce Indonesia’s position as a key player in the global supply chain for sustainable forest products.

Following the MoU signing, FSC and the Ministry of Forestry will conduct a field visit to Katingan Regency, Central Kalimantan, to observe firsthand FSC-certified rattan management practices implemented by the Katingan Rattan Farmers Association (P2RK).

The visit will serve as a tangible example of how sustainable forest management, encompassing not only timber production but also non-timber forest products and ecosystem services, can generate economic and social value while safeguarding environmental sustainability.