Amid the lush biodiversity of Sumatra, the province of Riau is fast becoming a symbol of Indonesia’s climate ambitions, charting a path that combines ecological preservation with inclusive economic growth. Once defined by rampant deforestation and peatland degradation, the region is now rewriting its story by placing local leadership and traditional knowledge at the center of forest-based climate action.

Riau’s pivot comes as part of Indonesia’s broader national strategy to reach net-zero emissions by 2060. A key pillar of this strategy is the country’s reliance on its forest cover to absorb at least 140 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year a target equivalent to removing 30 million cars from the roads annually. For this plan to succeed, provinces like Riau must lead the way.

A New Model for Sustainable Development

At the core of Riau’s transformation is the "Green for Riau" initiative, launched earlier this year with support from the Indonesian government, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and funding from the United Kingdom. This programme offers a fresh model for implementing climate policy one that marries local insight with international support.

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Governor Abdul Wahid of Riau emphasized that environmental and economic objectives need not be in conflict. The initiative’s design is a clear reflection of that belief, offering sustainable income sources such as agroforestry, ecotourism, and non-timber forest products to local communities. With nearly half of Riau’s seven million residents relying on forest ecosystems for their livelihoods, this approach allows economic development to grow alongside conservation.

Decentralized Climate Action in Practice

The Green for Riau programme demonstrates how sub-national actors can deliver meaningful progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While national governments provide the legal and policy infrastructure, it is often local authorities who are tasked with turning these policies into tangible outcomes.

Gita Sabharwal, the UN’s Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, noted that Riau exemplifies what bottom-up climate action can achieve. By aligning provincial implementation with national targets, the initiative shows that sustainable development is not just a top-down ambition it is a community-driven imperative.

Bringing REDD+ to the Ground Level

Central to this new approach is the REDD+ framework, which supports verified efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Riau is poised to become Indonesia’s first province to unlock REDD+ finance, supported by nearly five million hectares of carbon-rich peatlands.

What sets this effort apart is the integration of satellite-based carbon monitoring, artificial intelligence, and field verification with adat local customs passed down through generations. The initiative actively works with traditional leaders and communities to ensure that modern climate tools do not overwrite ancestral knowledge but are instead guided by it.

Datuk H. Marjohan Yusuf, Chairman of the Malay Customary Institute in Riau, underlined the importance of respecting customary wisdom in environmental decision-making. He noted that traditional practices offer a deep, time-tested understanding of nature and must inform how technology is applied on the ground.

Strengthening Rights and Safeguards

During the launch of Green for Riau, customary communities signed a landmark declaration committing to forest protection in alignment with Indonesia’s national legal frameworks. This legal recognition of customary land and governance systems is more than symbolic—it forms the ethical backbone of how benefit-sharing, carbon finance, and environmental safeguards will be implemented.

The declaration also ensures compliance with Indonesia’s Social Safeguards Information System, aligning local practices with international standards and enhancing the legitimacy of the province’s forest transition efforts.

Forest Finance Meets Biodiversity Conservation

Riau’s leadership is not only about cutting emissions. The province is home to some of the world’s most endangered species, including the Sumatran orangutan, tiger, and elephant. Protecting these habitats supports both climate resilience and biodiversity conservation, making the initiative a holistic blueprint for ecosystem preservation.

With pilot programmes already testing results-based REDD+ payments at the provincial level, Riau is building a scalable model for inclusive climate finance. These payment systems will attract private investment while ensuring that forest-dependent communities benefit directly from conservation outcomes.

Unlocking Global Capital for Local Climate Action

The economic potential of this forest transition is vast. Officials estimate that hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon finance could be unlocked annually through verified emissions reductions and international carbon trading frameworks.

At the 2025 REDD+ investment roundtable held in London, global investors showed keen interest in supporting Riau’s model. Marlene Nilsson, UNEP’s Deputy Director for Asia-Pacific, pointed out that the financing appetite demonstrates growing confidence in local, community-led solutions that uphold both environmental and social integrity.

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A Blueprint for Other Regions

As the first Indonesian province to adopt global standards for sustainable forest management, Riau is setting a precedent not just within the country, but across the tropical belt of the Global South. With support from the UN and international investors, the region is proving that climate finance can be both high-integrity and inclusive.

By integrating AI with indigenous wisdom, and coupling carbon finance with community rights, Riau is crafting a new narrative one where forests are not merely carbon sinks but living systems that support both people and planet. In the process, it is reshaping what climate leadership looks like in the 21st century.

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