A group of Balinese women performed a mepeed (walk in tandem) ritual carrying plants for a traditional ceremony (12/24) (credit: Samsara Living Museum)
Achieving Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 targets through regenerative tourism
Forests play an important role in mitigating climate change, and there is no better protecting mechanism than cultural tradition. Forests are more than just trees. For many indigenous communities across the world, they are the very foundation of their existence that provide sustenance, shelter and a deep sense of collective identity. However, getting indigenous communities more involved in protecting forests means supporting them to preserve their traditions and way of life.
The soothing melody of the gender - a traditional Balinese bamboo instrument - filled the air, blending harmoniously with the crisp sound of rain. Amid this serene backdrop, the voice of a Pandita echoed, reciting verses from the ancient Balinese scripture Sutasoma, a timeless tale of the deep bond between humans and nature. For centuries, this relationship has shaped the way Balinese communities coexist with their environment.
Against this setting, UNDP convened key stakeholders at the Samsara Living Museum in Karangasem, Bali, for a workshop exploring the intersection of forests, culture, and carbon reduction. The discussions underscored the vital role of integrating cultural wisdom into efforts to lower carbon emissions, particularly those stemming from tourism. Participants included academics, government officials, musicians, entrepreneurs, adat leaders, local communities, and representatives from Bali’s hospitality sector.
At the heart of the event was the recitation of the Sutasoma scripture, which painted a vivid picture of a lush and tranquil world infused with ancient Balinese wisdom. To this day, adat communities in Bali uphold the teachings of Sutasoma, using its guidance to foster harmony between humans, nature, and the spiritual realm. Rooted in customary law, these traditions ensure the sustainable management of natural resources while preserving Bali’s rich cultural heritage.
The reading of Sutasoma scripture (12/24) (credit: Samsara Living Museum)
Villages in Bali still follow Awig-awig, a customary law that is prescribed in a scripture made of lontar (palm) leaves. It is through this customary law that the forests are preserved in the form of rituals and traditional ceremonies; some even prohibit their residents from cutting down living trees and punish those who violate the rules with severe consequences.
In his opening speech, Indonesia’s Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, explained how cultural anchors, such as customary law and cultural revitalization, can serve as effective mechanisms to protect forests. He encouraged communities to participate and expressed support for adat communities who want to commit to protecting and preserving forests and environment.
The Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni delivers his speech during the opening of Youth Impact Weekend (12/24) (credit: UNDP Indonesia)
"The targets we have set for FOLU Net Sink in 2030 can only be achieved with cooperation and collaboration among various stakeholders and civil society, including Masyarakat Hutan Adat (Adat Community). Without this, our aspirations and targets will never be realized," he said.
Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 is an ambitious national program that aims to increase the capacity of forests and other land use to absorb and store carbon. It plays an important role in achieving the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) national target. The FOLU Net Sink program focuses on four main strategies:avoiding deforestation, conservation and sustainable forestry, protection and restoration peatlands, and increasing carbon absorption.
UNDP teams together with Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, and other invitees were watching a dance performance during the opening of Youth Impact Weekend (12/24) (credit: UNDP Indonesia)
The guardian of culture
Without forests, Balinese culture is at risk of disappearing. This was a key message from Gilang Ramadhan, a renowned Indonesian drummer, who highlighted the connection between nature and traditional music during his presentation at the event.
Ramadhan expressed growing concern over the future of Indonesia’s traditional music, as high-quality bamboo - one of the primary materials for many indigenous instruments - is becoming increasingly scarce. While Indonesia is home to a vast array of musical traditions, he noted a troubling shift: some instrument makers have started using PVC as a substitute for bamboo, signaling an impending crisis.
“Bamboo is not just a symbol of nature’s beauty - it embodies our nation’s rich cultural heritage,” he said. “Without forests, there is no sound. gender players playing music accompanied the reciting of Sutasoma scripture that marked the start of Youth Impact Weekend (12/24)
Ramadhan emphasized the vital role that villages can play in preserving both the environment and cultural traditions by planting bamboo. Beyond sustaining a key material for musical instruments, bamboo cultivation can also improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, and enhance local economic opportunities.
Gilang Ramadhan joined the event virtually, sharing his insights about traditional music instruments made from bamboo (12/24) (credit: Samsara Living Museum)
“We can harvest bamboo within 2-3 years, so imagine if this year, we plant bamboo in every village - then we can save the earth, not only the village,” said Ramadhan.
“This tourism potential for the village, not only preserving its traditional music. Bamboo can enhance the air quality, help reduce emissions, attract tourists and support the creation of environmentally friendly villages. Imagine if we visit a place like this, the air is fresh, the music is soothing, the setting is serene, and then we want to come back again for sure,” he added.
Exchanging knowledge
The emissions from the tourism sector are projected to increase by 25 per cent by 2030, compared to 2016, according to a research conducted by UN Tourism/ITF. To mitigate this, Indonesia signed the Glasgow Declaration in 2022 to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030, and expressed its commitment to reach zero emissions from the tourism sector by 2060. The country has developed a roadmap to realize its plan.
UNDP, through the Climate Promise project, supported the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to develop a roadmap to decarbonize the tourism sector. It is expected that regenerative tourism can become the right solution to minimize environmental impact of tourism industry, and at the same time, actively contribute to forest conservation, carbon sequestration and restore ecological health of the destination, establishing a mutual relationship for both tourism and environment.
A discussion session about conservation strategy, policy innovation, technology, also community’s role in forest conservation (12/24) (credit: Samsara Living Museum)
According to Wiratno, the former head of Taskforce III Conservation at the FOLU Net Sink Secretariat, regenerative tourism emphasizes not only learning but also fostering self-sufficiency. Unlike traditional tourism, which often treats indigenous communities as mere attractions, regenerative tourism positions them as active participants - subjects who inspire others to engage with and learn from their culture.
"The revitalization of local cultures is deeply connected to environmental conservation," Wiratno explained. "Local traditions are rich in philosophy, wisdom, and practices that naturally promote sustainability and the preservation of forests, water, and other natural resources."
Wiratno, former head of Taskforce III Conservation FOLU Net Sink Secretariat, delivered a presentation about FoLU Net Sink 2030 (12/24) (credit: Samsara Living Museum)
"Regenerative tourism is not just about generating income," Wiratno added. "The economic benefits will follow naturally when tourism is managed through a regenerative model - one where culture is a central pillar."
He sees regenerative tourism as more than just sightseeing: it is a platform for a meaningful knowledge exchange on environmental preservation and cultural heritage. Unlike conventional tourism, which often caters to leisure seekers, this approach attracts a more diverse audience -researchers, artists, historians, and policymakers - who seek deeper insights into forest conservation and traditional practices.
Wiratno believes that by visiting living learning centers in villages, travellers can reconnect with nature and engage directly with local communities.
"Regenerative tourism should strike a balance between cultural integrity, social-ecological sustainability, and economic development," he said. "It must be designed to minimize environmental impact while enriching visitors with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the places they visit."
Community participation is key
Unsustainable tourism development can cause negative impacts to the environment and cause pollution, water consumption, deforestation, land degradation and biodiversity loss that may put adat communities in danger. Preserving their culture means protecting the rights of adat communities and inviting them to take active participation in forest conservation through sharing knowledge and practicing their cultural traditions.
The ambitious target of Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 requires active participation from all levels of society. It is also important to apply a rights-based approach that centers on empowerment, inclusion, and equity, supporting policy makers to achieve sustainable development priorities and ensure no one is left behind. Therefore, it is important to establish inclusive dialogues and connect communities with key actors to discuss the most pressing challenges that happen at the grassroots level.
Through panel discussions, workshops on policy recommendations and participative sessions, attendees at the event enthusiastically discussed environmental issues they face daily with policymakers and looked for possible solutions.
For example, one of the participants, sought support to help preserve the population of small cockatoo and yellow eye starling birds that are endemic to Nusa Penida Island in Bali. Another participant addressed the needs to support local communities in documenting their traditions to help them preserve it during a visit to one Bali Aga (ancient) village, whose residents grow coffee and practice six farming traditions.
Workshop participants engaged in discussions with UNDP team, academicians and FOLU team (12/24) (Credit: Samsara Living Museum)
Another participant, I Wayan Sutama, a deputy of pemangku adat (religious leader) from Bug Bug village, was inspired by the discussion. He envisioned a future where the barren hills of his village are transformed into lush groves of bamboo, a symbol of resilience and sustainability.
“I want to plant bamboo to conserve water,” he said, his voice brimming with determination. “And at the same time, I want to make Bug Bug an example of a thriving tourism village.”
Sutama’s vision resonated with the broader message of the workshop - how nature, culture, and the economy can intertwine to create lasting impact. Resident Representative of UNDP, Norimasa Shimomura, reinforced this idea, emphasizing the critical role of forests in driving economic growth and social well-being.
“UNDP works to empower communities and foster partnerships that benefit both the environment and the local economy,” Shimomura said. “Our collaboration - with the government, communities, and partners - aims to unlock the full potential of synergies between forest culture and livelihoods. This is how we can all contribute to Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 target.”
UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative, Norimasa Shimomura and Indonesian Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, playing Ngoncang music using traditional rice mortar instrument (12/24) (Credit: UNDP Indonesia)
The workshop, Harmonizing Forest Conservation and Culture: The Role of Regenerative Tourism in Achieving Indonesia’s FoLU Net Sink 2030, underscored the power of collective action. Organized under UNDP Indonesia’s Climate Promise project, it served as a blueprint for sustainable ecotourism and conservation efforts - ensuring that climate action is inclusive, leaving no one behind.
This workshop also aimed to serve as a best practice to support future programs, especially forest conservation and nature conservation based on ecotourism, which can help Indonesia achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
