"This confirms the government's commitment, including concrete funding to protect the national park. US$120 million has been allocated for Way Kambas," Hashim Djojohadikusumo, the President's Special Envoy for Climate and Energy, said at the 2026 Indonesia Economic Summit (IES) in Jakarta on Wednesday.
According to Hashim, Way Kambas National Park is a critical conservation area for the Sumatran elephant, the critically endangered Sumatran rhinoceros, and various other threatened species.
He said the budget commitment was conveyed directly by President Prabowo Subianto during his meeting with King Charles III at Lancaster House in London last January.
Hashim emphasized that the funding would be sourced entirely from domestic resources and not from international donors.
“This is a concrete example that we implement what we preach,” he said.
Furthermore, Hashim stated that President Prabowo is also committed to significantly increasing the number of forestry police, from around 5,000 personnel to 70,000.
Currently, the number of forestry police is considered insufficient to safeguard Indonesia’s 57 national parks.
“This number will be sufficient, at least for the time being, to protect national parks, protected forests, and other critical areas vital to the sustainability of our environment and our planet,” he added.
Hashim reiterated that the government’s commitment to environmental conservation is crucial, noting that over the past 10–15 years, approximately 4 million hectares of protected forests and national parks have been illegally occupied by oil palm plantations operated by irresponsible actors.
“So, these are two clear examples of President Prabowo’s and the government’s commitment to environmental protection,” he said.
Earlier in January, Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni stated that the government is currently laying the groundwork for Way Kambas to become the first national park in Indonesia to host a carbon offset project open to the Voluntary Carbon Market.
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Translator: Rizka Khaerunnisa, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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