The Riau Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK) Strengthens Quality Control and Safeguard Systems for the Implementation of the GREEN for Riau Initiative.

Pekanbaru, May 11, 2026 – The Riau Provincial Government, through the Riau Province Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK), held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Quality Control (QC) and Quality Assurance (QA) in the implementation of the jurisdiction-based REDD+ program through the GREEN for Riau (GREEN-Riau) initiative. The event took place in the Meeting Room of the Head of the Riau Province Environment and Forestry Agency.

This FGD is a crucial part of the GREEN-Riau readiness phase in building credible, accountable carbon governance that aligns with national and international standards, including the ART-TREES standard. The discussion emphasized that data quality, traceability, and monitoring mechanisms are the main foundations for successful REDD+ implementation in Riau Province.

In the forum, Miranty Magetsari (Institutional Strengthening Expert for GREEN for Riau) and participants discussed the fundamental differences between Quality Control and Quality Assurance. QC focuses on checking the quality of final products such as emissions data, FREL, MRV, safeguards, and strategic documents, while QA ensures that systems, procedures, and work processes are operating according to standards from the outset.

One key point raised was the need for specific, measurable, and realistic quality indicators to ensure the effectiveness of the entire process. Participants emphasized the importance of data traceability, spatial information system integration, open data access, and strengthening internal monitoring and audit systems as part of GREEN-Riau's multi-layered oversight system.

The safeguard aspect was also a key focus of the discussion. Participants discussed the importance of biodiversity protection, management of high conservation value areas (HCV), peat conservation, protection of key wildlife, and the involvement of indigenous and local communities in sustainable forest and land management. Furthermore, the integration of traditional knowledge and local wisdom in peat and mangrove management is considered a strategic added value for Riau's carbon program at the international level.

The discussion also highlighted the importance of implementing Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), strengthening social inclusivity, and a responsive and accessible Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism (FGRM). Participants agreed that the success of safeguards is determined not only by the existence of documents, but also by their actual implementation and the quality of community engagement on the ground.

Furthermore, participants discussed the importance of policy harmonization between regional and national regulations to ensure that GREEN-Riau's implementation remains aligned with developments in REDD+ and climate change regulations. Institutional strengthening is also aimed at ensuring that the system developed can be fully owned and managed by the Riau Provincial Government on a sustainable basis, even after UNEP support ends.

Through this forum, the Riau Provincial Environment and Forestry Agency (DLHK) reaffirmed its commitment to building a carbon governance system that is transparent, participatory, and highly integrated. The GREEN for Riau Initiative is expected to be an important foundation for strengthening the implementation of REDD+, environmental protection, and the development of a green economy and sustainable carbon trading in Riau Province.