A joint Indonesian-Norwegian inspection has taken place deep in the forests of South Kalimantan, where newly restored land is being put under the microscope.
Officials from Indonesia’s Environmental Fund Management Agency and Norway’s project unit for its climate contribution visited rehabilitation sites in Hulu Sungai Tengah as part of the FOLU Net Sink 2030 programme, Antara reports.
The initiative aims to cut emissions from land use by restoring forests and improving ecosystem management.
The field check covered 82.86 hectares of replanted land across two villages, where teams assessed tree survival rates, growth, and overall vegetation development.
“We reviewed the sites to ensure forest and land rehabilitation activities are being implemented in accordance with regulations and to determine plant survival rates, which serve as a key indicator of the program’s achievements,” said Alip Winarto, Head of Watershed Management and Forest and Land Rehabilitation at the South Kalimantan Forestry Office.
The project mixes ecology with livelihoods. Farmers are planting rubber, durian, mahogany and longan trees, alongside short-term crops such as chilies, tomatoes and eggplants to generate income while the forest matures.
“We hope this initiative will deliver sustainable benefits. In addition to improving the quality and quantity of land cover, forest farmer groups in Hulu Sungai Tengah can also earn additional income from commodities developed through rehabilitation activities,” Winarto added.
Authorities say farmer groups involved in later phases of the programme are expected to continue maintaining the plantations, ensuring both long-term environmental gains and progress toward Indonesia’s climate targets.
