The Indonesian government, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have officially launched the second phase of the Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) project. This initiative, which focuses on promoting environmentally responsible commodity production and rural livelihoods, builds on previous efforts to reduce deforestation and improve supply chain transparency in Indonesia’s agricultural sector.
What are the primary goals of the SLM project?
The project aims to integrate sustainable land-use practices across key commodity sectors, specifically targeting palm oil, cocoa, and coffee production. According to the UNDP Indonesia, the initiative works to decouple agricultural expansion from forest loss. By providing technical assistance to smallholder farmers, the project helps them meet international sustainability standards, such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). The partnership focuses on landscape-level planning, ensuring that local government policies align with national conservation targets while supporting the economic stability of rural communities.
How does the Switzerland-Indonesia partnership function?
Switzerland’s involvement is facilitated through SECO, which views the project as a strategic investment in global climate goals and market access for Indonesian producers. The Swiss Embassy in Indonesia notes that this collaboration addresses the demand for “green” commodities in European markets. While the first phase focused on establishing pilot models for sustainable landscape management in specific districts, the second phase aims to scale these successful frameworks to a broader regional level. This transition from pilot to policy integration is intended to create a more resilient supply chain that can withstand increasing environmental regulations.
Why is this phase critical for Indonesian smallholders?
Smallholder farmers are often excluded from high-value international markets due to the high costs of certification and complex compliance requirements. The UNDP reports that this project provides the necessary infrastructure—including digital monitoring tools and farmer cooperatives—to bridge that gap.
By comparing the current phase to the initial rollout, the shift in focus becomes clear:
- Phase I: Focused on localized pilot programs and identifying high-risk deforestation areas.
- Phase II: Prioritizes systemic policy reform, institutional capacity building, and digital traceability systems to meet global regulatory demands.
What happens next for the initiative?
The project will continue to work directly with provincial and district-level governments to implement “jurisdictional approaches” to sustainability. This means that instead of certifying individual farms, the project seeks to certify entire administrative regions as sustainable. According to the Government of Indonesia, this move is essential to maintain the competitiveness of Indonesian exports as global markets tighten environmental requirements. The project is expected to run through 2027, with periodic evaluations to ensure that social equity and biodiversity protection remain at the forefront of the agricultural transition.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Partners: Government of Indonesia, Swiss SECO, and UNDP.
- Key Commodities: Palm oil, cocoa, and coffee.
- Primary Objective: Scaling sustainable land-use models to meet international market standards.
- Duration: The second phase is currently active, with targets extending toward 2027.