Singapore and Indonesia Showcase Grassroots-Driven Forest Restoration in SE Asia

SINGAPORE, May 27 2025 – As Southeast Asia grapples with the twin pressures of development and deforestation, Singapore and Indonesia are emerging as regional exemplars in community-driven forest restoration and sustainable land stewardship. Both nations, though markedly different in scale and geography, are demonstrating that innovative policies, empowered local leadership, and inclusive community participation are vital for lasting environmental impact.

Singapore: A ‘City in Nature’ with Regional Influence

Despite being one of the world’s most urbanised countries, Singapore continues to lead on forest conservation through science-backed strategies and public engagement. The city-state has lost around 2.88 thousand hectares of tree cover since 2001 – a 15% decline – with 23 hectares lost in 2023 alone, resulting in an estimated 20.1 kilotons of CO₂ emissions, according to Global Forest Watch.

In response, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 has laid out a bold “City in Nature” vision that integrates ecological resilience into urban planning. Central to this is the OneMillionTrees movement, which has already seen over 540,000 trees planted across the island with the active involvement of schools, communities, and corporations.

Restoration projects at Kranji Marshes, Mandai Mangroves, and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve not only help enhance biodiversity but also engage volunteers in mangrove planting and habitat rehabilitation. These efforts extend regionally through Singapore’s participation in initiatives like the ASEAN Peatland Forest Project, aimed at protecting high-carbon-value ecosystems and reducing haze-causing degradation.

Singapore’s approach demonstrates how even land-scarce nations can contribute to climate goals through inclusive, policy-aligned conservation strategies.

Indonesia: Reclaiming Ancestral Forests Through Local Leadership

In Indonesia’s Aceh province, a powerful story of forest restoration is unfolding through the efforts of Muhammad Nasir, a traditional leader, or Imeum Mukim, of Mukim Paloh. His 12-village jurisdiction once saw its 2,981-hectare sacred forest covertly designated for palm oil plantations in 1987, threatening the community’s spiritual, ecological, and economic ties to the land.

Determined to reclaim his ancestral forest, Nasir sought help in 2012 from Jaringan Komunitas Masyarakat Adat (JKMA), a network that partnered with Aliansi Kolibri, an Indonesian coalition of civil society organisations. Together, they provided training in participatory mapping, legal rights, customary law, and climate awareness. Nasir emerged as both a cultural guardian and an environmental advocate, spearheading efforts to formally reclaim Mukim Paloh’s customary forest status.

Years of advocacy paid off on 7 September 2023, when Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry granted official recognition to the Mukim Paloh forest – a milestone celebrated by President Joko Widodo just days later in Jakarta.

Community Restoration at Scale

Aliansi Kolibri’s success doesn’t end in Aceh. The coalition has restored 22 hectares of degraded forest across six districts, partnering with more than half a dozen local organisations. Their model prioritises native species and community food security, having planted 2,584 seedlings of fruit-bearing trees like avocado, durian, guava, cocoa, and mango – with harvests expected in four to five years.

“This model not only restores the environment but strengthens the community’s connection to the land and boosts food resilience,” said Saharuddin, Secretary of Aliansi Kolibri. “It’s a template for other countries in Southeast Asia to adopt – ensuring that local people benefit directly from forest conservation.”

Regional Lessons and Global Relevance

Together, Singapore and Indonesia provide two distinct but complementary approaches to forest restoration: one rooted in urban innovation and policy integration, the other in cultural heritage and indigenous rights.

At a time when climate finance, biodiversity loss, and food security dominate global discussions, their efforts remind us that sustainable development is not just about trees and carbon – it’s about people, place, and purpose.

Their example shows that whether through city-wide planting campaigns or the defence of customary lands, inclusive forest restoration can serve as a cornerstone of Southeast Asia’s climate future.