THE GREEN
FOR RIAU INITIATIVE
Indonesia, home to some of the world's richest tropical forests, plays a critical role in the global response to climate change. The country aims to reach net-zero emissions by 2060, supported by its Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) Net Sink 2030 plan. This ambitious effort targets 140 million tonnes of CO2 absorbed per year—the equivalent of removing 30 million cars from the road.
With a broader shift to a low-carbon economy, Indonesia could eventually reduce emissions by over 350 million tonnes per year—making a significant contribution to global climate goals. Building on this national ambition, key provinces like Riau are preparing to access jurisdictional REDD+ finance by aligning subnational systems with national targets.
Why Riau?
With approximately 4.9 million hectares of peatlands, Indonesia's Riau Province holds one of the largest natural carbon stocks in the country. However, it has also experienced some of the nation's highest rates of deforestation and land degradation, largely due to peatland drainage, fires, and land-use conversion.
Peatlands—among the most carbon-rich ecosystems on Earth—present both an opportunity and a challenge. When preserved, they act as powerful carbon sinks. But when degraded, they release vast amounts of CO2 and methane, becoming major sources of emissions.
Given this dual role, managing peatlands effectively is essential to fight against climate change. Riau is now taking steps toward jurisdictional REDD+ readiness.
REDD+
6.5 MILLION
The Initiative
The Green for Riau Initiative (Growing Resilience through Emissions Reductions, Community Empowerment, and Ecosystem Restoration for a Nurturing Future — GREEN for Riau), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (UK-FCDO), brings together the national-level Ministry of Forestry (MoF) and Ministry of Environment (MoE), which will provide guidance and direction to the project, aligning it with national priorities while drawing on learnings and benefits from the initiative through the piloting of REDD+ RBP at the sub-national level, with the aim of expanding to other provinces and the national level.
SUB-NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
A multi-stakeholder group consisting of representatives from both provincial and municipal government agencies where REDD+ activities are taking place. With technical support provided by the UN-REDD Programme—led by UNEP with support from FAO—the joint programme management group will coordinate and oversee the execution and monitoring of all REDD+ project activities, ensuring alignment with national policies and international standards.
The initiative will deliver:
- Setting a forest emissions baseline and setting up a forest monitoring system.
- Establishing social and environmental safeguards, including integrating Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and setting up a benefit-sharing mechanism in line with national and international REDD+ standards.
- Strengthening land-use governance, policy framework and build capacity.
- Register and validate Riau's Sub-national REDD+ RBP programme for international trading.
- Establishing a financial mechanism to ensure transparent fund flows, coordinate with the private sector, develop an investment pipeline, and identify potential buyers.
- Riau holds one of Indonesia's largest carbon stocks, with 4.9 MILLION hectares of peatlands
- Peatland restoration alone could cut up to 200 MILLION tonnes CO₂ annually
- Indonesia aims to remove 140 MILLION tonnes CO₂/year—equal to 30 million cars off the road
- Riau could potentially unlock hundreds of millions of dollars annually in public and private carbon finance
- The province is a biodiversity hotspot, home to iconic and endangered species such as the Sumatran tiger, orangutan, and elephant
Informasi terkini aksi REDD+ di Provinsi Riau
Kick Off Meeting & Inception Workshop Penyusunan Safeguard - SISREDD+
Guna menunjukkan komitmen dalam mendukung kebijakan REDD+ nasional, Pemerintah Provinsi Riau mengambil inisiatif untuk mengadakan kegiatan yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pemahaman para pemangku kepentingan mengenai safeguards dan REDD+.
Workshop Koordinasi Tindak Lanjut Kelompok Kerja SISREDD+ Riau dan Kepatuhan Data Safeguards
Melanjutkan kegiatan Kickoff Meeting & Inception Workshop Penyusunan Safeguard SIS REDD+, Provinsi Riau dengan didukung oleh Tenaga Ahli Safeguards Riau dan UNEP-WCMC secara paralel melakukan identifikasi kebutuhan data pendukung dan analisis kesenjangan
Workshop Konsultasi Publik Summary of Safeguards Provinsi Riau
Menindaklanjuti hasil pembahasan pada Kickoff Meeting dan Inception Workshop Penyusunan Safeguard SISREDD+ Provinsi Riau pada tanggal 6-8 Mei 2024, Provinsi Riau segera melakukan pengumpulan seluruh data pendukung safeguards sebagaimana dipersyaratkan Safeguards Implementation Assessment Tool (APPS).