The signing ceremony took place at the Manggala Wanabakti Building in Jakarta on Friday, 31 October 2025. The agreement marks a strategic milestone in strengthening cooperation to support global climate change mitigation efforts. Both APHI and ITPC agreed to position sustainable peatland management within forest areas as a key pillar in achieving Indonesia’s Forestry and Other Land Uses (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 target, a national goal where greenhouse gas (GHG) absorption by the FOLU sector exceeds its emissions by the year 2030.
Through this MoU, both parties committed to advancing knowledge exchange, training, and capacity building for government institutions, private sector entities, and local communities involved in peatland governance. APHI will engage its member companies to support peatland restoration and conservation practices within forest areas while promoting sustainable business models aligned with global carbon market mechanisms.
APHI Chairman Soewarso emphasized that the partnership reinforces a shared commitment to safeguarding the sustainability of tropical peatland ecosystems.
“This MoU strengthens our shared commitment to sustainable tropical peatland management. It bridges science and business to turn research into real action in support of global climate goals,” said Soewarso.
Meanwhile, Agus Justianto, Head of the ITPC Interim Secretariat, highlighted that the collaboration exemplifies the synergy between science and the private sector toward a shared mission—protecting and restoring tropical peatlands within forest landscapes.
“Our collaboration with APHI shows how science and the private sector can unite for a common purpose—protecting and restoring tropical peatland,” Agus stated.
“By sharing knowledge and building capacity together, we aim to turn research into tangible results for climate, biodiversity, and communities. This partnership embodies the spirit of collective action for our planet.”
As the coordinating partner of ITPC, CIFOR and Global Peatland Initiative (GPI) UNEP congratulated both parties on this milestone.
Robert Nasi, Director General CIFOR and Chief Scientist CIFOR-ICRAF, remarked, “Peatlands are vital for climate regulation, biodiversity, and community livelihoods. This collaboration between ITPC and APHI reflects CIFOR-ICRAF’s commitment to turning science into action and showcases Indonesia’s leadership in aligning research, policy, and business toward global climate goals.”
Diana Kopansky, Coordinator of the Global Peatlands Initiative at UNEP, added, “Congratulations to Indonesia for continuing to expand and strengthen South-South collaboration through the International Tropical Peatlands Center, including taking steps to activate a whole-of-society approach by signing this new MoU with APHI. The UNEP-led Global Peatlands Initiative community continues to exchange and learn from Indonesia’s extensive experience in protecting, restoring, and rewetting peatlands for a sustainable development future.”
Under the agreement, ITPC will provide research and technical support, while APHI will facilitate field access and promote the implementation of sustainable forest and peatland management practices across its members’ concession areas.
The MoU will remain in effect for five years from the date of signing and may be extended upon mutual agreement. Periodic evaluations will be conducted to ensure the effectiveness of this collaboration in advancing the restoration of tropical peatland ecosystems in Indonesia and the broader Southeast Asian region.
Through this initiative, APHI reaffirms its role as a strategic partner of the Indonesian government and the global community in strengthening the private sector’s contribution to sustainable and internationally competitive forest and land governance.
The cooperation between ITPC and APHI, signed on 31 October 2025, will be publicly celebrated during the ITPC event at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on 21 November 2025.
