New Ministerial Regulation Governs Business Requirements in Conservation Areas

The Ministry of Forestry (Kemenhut) will regulate the Norms, Standards, Procedures, and Criteria (Norma, Standar, Prosedur dan Kriteria/NSPK) for business licensing in conservation forest areas. This regulation is set forth in the draft Regulation of the Minister of Forestry on Utilization of Environmental Services.

“This regulation covers everything from licensing procedures, requirements for obtaining permits, the rights and obligations of permit holders, supervision and control, to sanctions,” said Nandang Prihadi, Director of Environmental Services Utilization, to Hukumonline.

Through this regulation, the locations within conservation forests that may be used for carbon utilization, as part of greenhouse gas (Gas Rumah Kaca- “ GRK ”) offsetting, are also specified. The draft Permenhut on the utilization of environmental services complements the revision of Regulation of the Minister of Environment and Forestry No. 7 of 2023 on Procedures for Carbon Trading in the Forestry Sector (“ PermenLHK 7/2023 ”).

“It can be said that the Regulation on Environmental Services strengthens the framework. Previously, it could not be implemented in conservation forests, but now it can,” said Nandang.