Indonesia promotes innovative national park funding in London

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia reaffirmed its commitment to innovative financing for national parks at London Climate Action Week 2026, promoting conservation as a strategic investment to support sustainable development and biodiversity protection.

Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni made the remarks during the high-level "Nature and Finance" opening session held on the sidelines of the climate event in London.

"Indonesia believes that nature is not only something to be protected, but also a development asset that must be managed and invested in sustainably. Therefore, we need to shift from financing conservation to investing in conservation," Antoni said in a statement received in Jakarta.

As one of the world's megadiverse countries, Indonesia believes conservation efforts should generate ecological, social, and economic benefits simultaneously.

The minister said the approach aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's directive to strengthen natural resource protection while creating inclusive and sustainable development opportunities.

During the forum, Antoni introduced a National Park Financing and Management Innovation Task Force aimed at strengthening national park protection and restoration, safeguarding rare and endangered species, and developing sustainable funding sources for conservation.

He said Indonesia is committed to ensuring that indigenous peoples and local communities become key partners and beneficiaries in the management of conservation areas.

To support the initiative, the government has conducted studies in several national parks to identify financing opportunities suited to their ecological characteristics, conservation priorities, and management capacities.

Among the instruments being developed are carbon credits, biodiversity credits, species conservation bonds, ecotourism schemes, debt-for-nature swaps, and other innovative financing mechanisms.

Indonesia also introduced the "One Species, One Company" initiative, which seeks to encourage private-sector participation in protecting iconic wildlife species, including rhinoceroses, orangutans, elephants, tigers, and birds-of-paradise.

On the institutional side, the government is strengthening conservation financing governance through the development of a Public Service Agency scheme for national parks to improve financial management flexibility and ensure long-term funding sustainability.

One of Indonesia's current priorities is the preparation of science-based investment prospectuses for 13 priority national parks.

Through the initiative, Indonesia aims to translate conservation outcomes into credible, transparent, and scalable investment opportunities.

Antoni also called on governments, development institutions, philanthropic organizations, financial institutions, and private investors to help address the global conservation funding gap.

"Indonesia invites governments, development institutions, philanthropic organizations, financial institutions, and private investors to jointly build conservation financing models that are practical, measurable, and deliver tangible impacts," he said.

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Translator: Arnidhya Nur Zhafira, Martha Herlinawati Simanjunt

Editor: Arie Novarina

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