Indonesia’s forests rarely speak in abstractions. They are lived landscapes — places where biodiversity, climate stability and rural livelihoods intersect. Covering around 120 million hectares, they sit at the centre of the country’s development story and its global environmental commitments.

The Multistakeholder Forestry Programme Phase 5 (MFP5) is a long term technical assistance programme that supports the Government of Indonesia to strengthen forest governance, enhance sustainable livelihoods and position Indonesian forest products in global markets. This long-standing collaboration reflects the shared commitment between Indonesia and the UK to advance sustainable forest governance, support inclusive economic opportunities, and strengthen Indonesia’s role in addressing global climate and biodiversity challenges.

As MFP5 enters its next phase, the partnership continues to focus on practical solutions that respond to national priorities while contributing to wider global sustainability goals.

Over the past decade, Indonesia has made notable progress in managing its forests more sustainably. Strengthened legality frameworks, traceability systems and broader forest governance initiatives have gained international recognition. As forest governance continues to evolve, there are opportunities to further enhance the systems, data and coordination mechanisms that support decision-making.

“The opportunity is now to build on Indonesia’s strong foundation by ensuring governance system continue to evolve to manage forests as complex, multi-use landscape,” Irfan Bakhtiar, Co-Director/Team Leader of the MFP5 team explains.

Indonesia’s evolving approach towards integrated, multi-business forestry builds on decades of forest management experience and is central to the recent restructuring in the forestry sector.
From Rules to Decisions
In practice, improving forest governance means ensuring that policies and data actually support day to day decisions. MFP5 focuses on strengthening the underlying systems that shape how forests are planned, managed and monitored, rather than delivering stand alone technical solutions.

Zahrul Muttaqin, Co-Director of MFP5 representing Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, explains, “Our role is to support decision makers with integrated information, evidence and collaboration platforms. That means clearer policy signals, information systems that connect across institutions, and incentives that align sustainability with economic outcomes.”

This work includes supporting the Ministry of Forestry to improve policy coherence, integrate sustainability and traceability into forest operations, and strengthen dialogue between government agencies, businesses and forest dependent communities. The aim is not simply better coordination, but governance processes that reflect how forests are used on the ground and how benefits and responsibilities are shared.

Confidence in the Market

Governance reform is not only an environmental concern; it is increasingly an economic one. Global markets are raising expectations around sustainability, transparency and traceability, and Indonesia faces growing scrutiny over how forest products are produced. Maintaining international confidence increasingly involves demonstrating strong governance outcomes alongside robust compliance systems.

“Sustainability builds on a strong system,” Irfan Bakhtiar says. “It’s about delivering the environmental, social and economic results that governance frameworks promise.”

For timber, strong governance underpins the credibility of certification schemes such as SVLK (Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas dan Kelestarian), signalling legality and sustainability to international buyers. But the opportunity extends further. Non timber forest products — from rattan and resins to honey and medicinal plants — stand to benefit when governance frameworks recognise community rights and enable traceable, responsibly sourced supply chains that premium markets reward.

Tangible Benefits on the Ground

MFP5’s design reflects the understanding that governance only becomes durable when its benefits are shared. The programme’s interventions are structured around three mutually reinforcing priorities: strengthening sustainable forest management in production forests; advancing SVLK+ as a broader sustainability standard; and positioning Indonesian forest products globally in line with climate, biodiversity and trade commitments, including the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target.

“Strong governance strengthens Indonesia’s ability to respond to evolving sustainability expectations and market requirements,” Irfan explains, “It also creates opportunities for producers, MSMEs and communities to participate more meaningfully in forest based economies.”

Social forestry and multi business forestry models feature prominently, supported by improved data, stronger Forest Management Units (KPHs) and evidence based planning. At the same time, expanding SVLK+ beyond timber aims to bring non timber products into formal, transparent systems that support market access and investment.

Inclusion As a Governance Principle

A defining feature of MFP5’s approach is its treatment of inclusion as a core characteristic of effective governance. By improving access to information and strengthening institutional capacity to engage stakeholders, the programme seeks to ensure that women, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and youth are not peripheral to decision making.

“Inclusive governance isn’t slower or softer,” Zahrul says. “It’s more resilient, because it reflects the realities that shape forest landscapes.”

What Success Looks Like

By the end of MFP5, the ambition is clear: more coherent institutions, strengthened traceability systems, and greater confidence — domestically and internationally — in Indonesia’s forest governance. That confidence underpins investment, strengthens diplomacy, and supports Indonesia’s position as a trusted supplier of sustainable forest products.

Building on more than 20 years of Indonesia–UK cooperation through the Multistakeholder Forestry Programme, MFP5 represents a continued commitment to partnership — bringing government, communities, and the private sector together to support forests that deliver benefits for people, nature and the economy.