Six concessions in East Kalimantan are committed to managing forests sustainably through landscape-scale MUK

Six concession companies holding Forest Utilization Business Licenses in Natural Forests (PBPH-HA) in East Kalimantan Province have signed a joint commitment to strengthen sustainable forest management in the Wehea–Kelay landscape area through Multi-Forest Enterprises (MUK). This initiative aims to curb deforestation, enhance disaster mitigation, and ensure the sustainability of biodiversity in one of the province’s most important natural forest landscapes.

The six PBPH companies are PT. Gunung Gajah Abadi, PT. Karya Lestari, PT. Utama Damai Indah Timber, PT. Aditya Kirana Makmur, PT. Wana Bakti Persada Utama, and PT. Amindo Wana Persada. The signing was held in Samarinda on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, and was witnessed by the Head of the East Kalimantan Environmental Agency, Joko Istanto, who also serves as the Chair of the Wehea-Kelay Landscape Forum; the Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and Tropical Environment, Mulawarman University, Prof. Dr. Irawan Wijaya Kusuma; and other partners such as Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN).

Joko Istanto said this commitment is crucial, as over the last three decades, forest concession areas in Indonesia have shrunk from more than 60 million hectares in 1993 to less than 19.3 million hectares in 2017. “This reduction increases the pressure on the remaining forests, including the risks of deforestation and illegal degradation, which ultimately threatens the survival of key biodiversity habitats,” said Joko.

The East Kalimantan Provincial Government had previously designated the Wehea–Kelay Landscape as an Essential Ecosystem Area (KEE) due to its high biodiversity value, including serving as an important habitat for the Bornean orangutan. The Wehea-Kelay landscape is currently managed by 23 stakeholders, including government, companies, academics, and development partners.

Totok Suripto, President Director of PT. Gunung Gajah Abadi explained that MUK was chosen as the landscape management scheme because it is a government policy that allows for diversified revenue streams for concession holders. “MUK gives concession holders the opportunity to generate income beyond timber. We see this scheme as a chance to expand forest benefits through various enterprises, from timber and environmental services to carbon,” said Totok.

Support for Landscape-Scale MUK Implementation

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Irawan Wijaya Kusuma appreciated the commitment of the six concessions amid the decline in timber forest product utilization, especially from natural forests. According to him, many concession holders have ceased operations because the revenue is insufficient to cover operational costs. “Idle concession areas are highly vulnerable to illegal logging, encroachment, and land-use conversion, which can lead to deforestation, natural disasters, and other negative impacts. Therefore, the government needs to provide appropriate policy support to ensure this scheme can succeed,” he said.

YKAN Executive Director, Herlina Hartanto, added that the commitment of the six concessions marks the first step in developing landscape-scale MUK. Over time, various strategies will be developed and tested in the landscape to encourage collaboration not only among concessions but also among villages, as well as among multi-stakeholders, and the harmonization of conservation and economic development within an integrated management system.

“We hope the landscape-scale MUK initiative in Wehea–Kelay will achieve economic, ecological, climate, and social balance that benefits, particularly for East Kalimantan Province. The disasters that have affected our brothers and sisters in Sumatra should serve as both a reminder and a motivation for us to continue collective efforts toward this goal,” Herlina concluded.