Indonesia promotes carbon trading and ecotourism for community economic growth

Indonesia’s Environment Minister Moh Jumhur Hidayat is advocating for the optimization of carbon trading and the development of ecotourism to generate economic opportunities for local communities. During a visit to Wonosobo, Central Java, the Minister highlighted the potential for regions with dense vegetation and active reforestation efforts to gain monetary value through carbon markets.

Minister Jumhur described carbon trading as being similar to "trading oxygen," noting that oxygen produced by tree planting can be compensated with monetary value. He pledged that the Ministry would ensure carbon trading operates transparently so that economic benefits reach local residents directly.

This initiative aligns with local efforts in Wonosobo, where Regent Afif Nurhidayat has mobilized residents to plant hundreds of thousands of coffee trees on the slopes of Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing. Additionally, the Minister promoted nature-based ecotourism as a means to strengthen regional economies while maintaining ecological sustainability.