Indonesia eyes 12.3 million ha land degradation neutrality by 2030

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry is aiming to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) across 12.3 million hectares by 2030, marking a major push to balance land degradation with aggressive restoration efforts.

Dyah Murtiningsih, the ministry's Director General of Watershed Management and Forest Rehabilitation, said here on Wednesday that this commitment is part of Indonesia's obligations as a member of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

"Indonesia is committed to achieving Land Degradation Neutrality, meaning there is a balance between degraded land and restored land. Our target is to reach around 12.3 million hectares by 2030," she said on the sidelines of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought commemoration.

Murtiningsih explained that meeting this target will be accompanied by accelerating massive Forest and Land Rehabilitation (RHL) programs, which include tree-planting initiatives both inside and outside forest areas.

In addition to vegetation planting, the ministry is combining its efforts with civil engineering techniques by constructing soil and water conservation infrastructure in critical areas across Indonesia.

The engineering infrastructure to be scaled up includes erosion control structures such as gully plugs, check dams, retaining dams, and terracing systems.

She acknowledged that these land restoration efforts still face challenges, such as the high frequency of hydrometeorological disasters and the threat of droughts.

Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) shows that Indonesia recorded 3,179 natural disasters throughout 2025, with 90 percent classified as hydrometeorological events, such as floods and landslides.

Among the most destructive incidents during this period were the flash floods and landslides that devastated Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra in late November 2025.

To address these dynamics, the Ministry of Forestry is calling for cross-sector collaboration involving the central government, regional governments, as well as other ministries and agencies to champion healthy land management.

She stressed that reckless land-use management could trigger a long-term domino effect, such as clean water crises, food scarcity, and national energy insecurity.

"We call on all parties to collaborate in adopting land and water conservation principles. This must become integral to all segments of society, ensuring land is used wisely across all activities," she remarked.

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Translator: M Riezko, Raka Adji

Editor: Arie Novarina

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