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However, the process continues to face challenges, before wider adoption.
particularly in determining the legal status and size of proposed In related news, the strengthened SVLK+ will require all
customary forest areas, including cases involving overlapping forest products traded domestically and internationally to be
land claims or designations. supported by legality assurance documentation, creating an
To address these issues, the Ministry of Forestry is using integrated certification and traceability system across the
the Forestry Geospatial Information System (SIGAP) and supply chain.

the Jaga Rimba Forestry Decision Support System (DSS) to The framework is supported by five key instruments,
support mapping and clarify the boundaries and status of including SVLK certification, Sustainable Forest Management
proposed areas. and Legality Certificates, V-Legal Documents, FLEGT Licenses
Director General of Social Forestry, Catur Endah Prasetiani, for exports to the European Union and the United Kingdom
stressed that customary forest recognition requires more than and Independent Assessment and Verification Bodies (LPVI).
accurate mapping. The government is also expanding support for small
Effective coordination among ministries, local governments businesses, cooperatives and social forestry groups through
and relevant institutions is also essential to resolve overlapping certification assistance, export documentation, improved
claims and ensure that recognition processes are carried out access to government procurement and marketing capacity-

comprehensively. building reinforcing Indonesia's commitment to sustainable
The government hopes that stronger inter-agency coordination, forest governance and competitive global trade.
supported by improved geospatial tools, will accelerate the
recognition and protection of indigenous communities’ rights Update product processing rules to boost downstream
over their customary forests. industries
Forest certification reform with SVLK-PEFC combined audit Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry is updating regulations on
Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has partnered with the forest product processing to accelerate downstream industry

Indonesian Forestry Certification Cooperation (IFCC)/Programme development, increase the value of forest resources and enhance
for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) to develop the competitiveness of the national forest products sector.
and pilot a combined audit mechanism that integrates The revisions, which include amendments to Minister of
Indonesia’s mandatory Timber Legality and Sustainability Environment and Forestry Regulation No. 8 of 2021, are aimed
Verification System (SVLK) with the internationally recognised at implementing Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 while
IFCC/PEFC forest certification scheme. addressing industry growth, global trade dynamics and the
The combined audit system will allow a single audit team
to assess both certification schemes simultaneously, reducing pxhere.com
duplication, improving efficiency and maintaining the integrity

of each standard.
The collaboration includes establishing a joint working team,
developing audit procedures, aligning SVLK and IFCC/PEFC
requirements, defining auditor competencies, conducting pilot
audits and refining the mechanism based on evaluation results.
Both parties also committed to ongoing coordination,
monitoring and evaluation to support effective implementation