Hutan Harapan: Monitoring the Ecosystem Restoration Concession

Monitoring & Independent Assessment

• Conducting regular annual monitoring missions, including:
  • Critical review of project documents, budgets, and procurement plans
  • Site visits to assess the quality and effectiveness of measures implemented, particularly with regard to the involvement of the local population (especially the Batin Sembilan forest tribe) and forest protection measures
  • Meetings with PT REKI and key stakeholders to evaluate attitudes, capacities, and project dynamics
• Providing continuous, independent reporting to KfW on project progress, challenges, risks, and emerging opportunities
• Delivering a formal Mid-Term Review and a Final Evaluation Mission

Technical & Managerial Advisory

• Advising PT REKI on overall budget management and annual work and procurement plans (AWP/APP)
• Support for forest conservation strategies and law enforcement measures, which require specific alternative dispute resolution strategies, particularly along the ‘coal road’ running through the forest, in areas of illegal oil drilling, forest fires, and in areas where farmers need land for oil palm cultivation. Providing guidance on business plan development and sustainable value chain analysis
• Advising on team composition and institutional capacity strengthening

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Supporting community engagement strategies for the 20+ population groups residing in the ERC buffer zone
• Recommendations on mechanisms and support measures to implement actions to curb illegal land occupations and to strengthen local ownership of nature conservation objectives
• Support for measures to protect and study biodiversity (e.g. flagship species such as the Sumatran elephant and the Sumatran tiger)
• Coordinating with international partners, including RSPB, BirdLife International, NABU, and Burung Indonesia

Impact

Ecosystem protection at scale: Supporting the sustainable management of over 98,000 hectares of tropical forest, safeguarding critical biodiversity and ecosystem functions in one of the world's most ecologically significant regions.

Climate resilience: By curbing illegal land seizure and promoting ecosystem restoration, the project directly contributes to Indonesia's climate commitments and the global targets of SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Sustainable livelihoods: Supporting the development of community-centred business activities and value chains, contributing to long-term financial sustainability for both the ERC management and local communities.

Institutional strengthening: Independent monitoring and targeted advisory services enhance the capacity of PT REKI and key stakeholders to manage the concession professionally, transparently, and in line with international standards.

Long-term policy relevance: As Indonesia's first ERC, Hutan Harapan serves as a national and regional model for ecosystem restoration concession management, with lessons applicable across Southeast Asia and beyond.