Indonesia targets 100 ecosystem work payment schemes in 2026

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Environment Ministry aims to expand Indonesia’s payment for ecosystem services (PES) program, locally referred to as PJLH, to 100 schemes this year to boost incentives for environmental conservation efforts.

In a statement received on Tuesday, the ministry's Deputy for Environmental Management and Sustainable Natural Resources Sigit Reliantoro emphasized that the government aims to balance expanded reach with improved quality in rolling out the program.

"Our goal is to enhance the quality of implementation, pursue institutional strengthening, and ensure that the public can truly reap benefits from the environment," he said, noting the importance of safeguarding natural ecosystems.

Elaborating on PJLH, Reliantoro described it as a mechanism in which those who manage and conserve ecosystems receive rewards or compensation from those benefiting from their environmental services.

This approach, he said, is important to promote sustainable practices in natural resource management across various sectors.

He noted that the Environment Ministry intends the 100-scheme PJLH target as a huge step toward bolstering environmental protection while improving the livelihoods of people actively contributing to conservation and responsible resource management.

Similarly, Director of Environmental Impacts from Regional and Sectoral Policies Widhi Handoyo stressed that PJLH goes beyond an environmental financing program, noting that it was designed as a mechanism aligning conservation goals with community welfare.

He highlighted that the program is rooted in two key goals: maintaining ecosystem sustainability and generating economic benefits for communities that contribute to environmental protection.

Indonesia has been developing its PES model since 2005, while a ministerial regulation issued in 2025 formally established the PJLH framework, he added.

Handoyo further noted that the ministry is now striving to strengthen implementation by developing a national PJLH dashboard, identifying potential schemes tailored to regions, improving human resource quality, and integrating the program with other initiatives.

Translator: Prisca T, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: Arie Novarina

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