Pekanbaru, February 2026 – The Riau Province Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) and the Ministry of Forestry's Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) held a strategic dialogue on Thursday, February 26, 2026, at the Riau Province DLHK Office to strengthen readiness for Jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD+) implementation through the GREEN for Riau initiative. This meeting provided a crucial opportunity to align steps, data, and technical support among field stakeholders to support emission reductions from the forestry and land use sectors in Riau Province.
The GREEN for Riau program is an initiative of the Riau Provincial government, supported by UNEP, with the aim of supporting emission reduction efforts, strengthening carbon governance, and increasing readiness for REDD+ implementation in Riau Province.
The event was opened and facilitated by Dr. Matnuril, S.IP, M.SI, MH, Head of Planning and Utilization Division, Riau DLHK, by presenting the main speakers, namely Bambang Arifatmi, Country Coordinator UNEP Indonesia, Dr. Ir. Wiratno, M.Sc, as well as experts and technical team GREEN for Riau, including Prof. Suwondo, Harry Oktavian, Muis Fajar, and Danang KS.
At the meeting, the Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) stated that the Riau Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA Riau), along with all Ministry of Forestry technical units (UPTs) in Riau Province, expressed their readiness to support the implementation of GREEN for Riau, particularly by strengthening the role of conservation areas as a key component of the land-based emission reduction strategy.
The conservation areas in Riau Province, which cover approximately 600,000 hectares and encompass 21 conservation areas, including three national parks: Tesso Nilo National Park, Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, and Zamrud National Park, have significant potential to support the implementation of JREDD+.
Furthermore, these conservation areas play a crucial role in biodiversity protection, including the presence of seven active Sumatran elephant populations. BBKSDA Riau is also currently developing several wildlife corridors, such as the Giam Siak Kecil-Balai Raja corridor, the Tesso area (Southeast and North), and Minas, to maintain habitat connectivity and support long-term conservation.
Meanwhile, the Sustainable Forest Management Agency (BPHL) emphasized the importance of synchronizing methodologies, including the need to consider the approaches used by various carbon projects in Riau within the Nesting framework with the ART-TREES standard, as well as opportunities for synergy with Forest Utilization Business Permit (PBPH) holders.
The Social Forestry Agency (BPS) expressed its support through the strengthening of approximately 100 Social Forestry Groups (KPS) with a total area of 83,000 ha.
Other Ministry of Forestry technical units (UPTs), such as the Watershed Management Agency (BPDAS), the Law Enforcement Agency (Gakkum), and the Education and Training Agency, also affirmed their support and synergy to ensure the success of this Riau Provincial government initiative.
Furthermore, Abdul Madian, Head of the Economic and Natural Resources Division of the Riau Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda), stated that this meeting was highly strategic because it involved stakeholders with direct roles in the field. "This meeting is very strategic because everyone present is a 'player' in the field, so the data we need will greatly support this initiative. GREEN for Riau not only supports the Riau Provincial Government but also the Central Government in achieving national targets, including the FOLU Net Sink 2030. The Riau Provincial Government itself has a strong commitment, which has been outlined in regional forestry planning documents. We hope that data and support from all UPTs (Technical Implementation Units) of the Ministry of Forestry can be utilized jointly to support the implementation of GREEN for Riau," he said.
Through this meeting, the stakeholders also identified significant potential for synergy between conservation areas and JREDD+ implementation in Riau Province, including the protection of high conservation value areas, strengthening habitat connectivity, forest and land rehabilitation, social forestry management, and improving governance and law enforcement.
Strong collaboration between local governments, the Ministry of Forestry's technical implementation units (UPT), development partners, and other stakeholders is expected to strengthen Riau Province's readiness to effectively implement JREDD+ and contribute significantly to supporting national emission reduction targets and sustainable forest management.
About the UN-REDD Programme: The UN-REDD Programme is a collaboration between the United Nations (UNEP, FAO, UNDP) to assist developing countries in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and managing forests sustainably.