On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, MADANI Berkelanjutan held two events at the Regional Development Planning Agency (BAPPEDA) Hall in Kapuas Hulu Regency, West Kalimantan: the Presentation of Natural Forest Mapping Results in Kapuas Hulu and a Discussion on Sustainable Investment Opportunities. The event was officially opened by Drs. H. Iwan Setiawan, M.Si., Assistant for Government and Public Welfare Affairs at BAPPEDA Kapuas Hulu, and attended by representatives from local government agencies (OPDs), the Forest Management Unit (KPH), and members of the Kapuas Hulu Civil Society Forum (FORMASI).

In his opening remarks, Drs. H. Iwan Setiawan, M.Si. expressed his appreciation for MADANI Berkelanjutan. Although the organization has only been working in Kapuas Hulu since 2023, it has demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration and coordination with local government agencies and development partners. He emphasized that collective initiatives in sustainable forest and commodity management are expected to promote inclusive and sustainable green development.

The event showcased the results of one year of MADANI Berkelanjutan's work in Kapuas Hulu through the KOLEKTIF Initiative (Sustainable Forest and Commodity Management for Inclusive Green Development). The initiative focuses on climate change mitigation, forest ecosystem protection, strengthening the capacity and sustainability of regional commodity supply chains, developing community-based bioenergy, and reinforcing local policies that support climate commitments.

After one year of implementation, the KOLEKTIF Initiative has produced several achievements that can support both the local government and communities in advancing sustainable development in Kapuas Hulu. These include mapping the potential for community-based biofuel production and identifying technical assistance needs among local government agencies to strengthen sustainable forest management through sustainable investment.

With growing attention from the private sector toward Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, Kapuas Hulu has significant potential to attract green investment.

A Strategy for Sustainable Forest Management

MADANI Berkelanjutan began its forest management strategy by presenting the results of its natural forest mapping, recognizing that many sustainable products and commodities with investment potential originate from natural forests. Indigenous Peoples and local communities living in and around these forests play a vital role in their stewardship and sustainable management.

The natural forest mapping was conducted to identify the extent and distribution of forests that can be protected and managed by communities under various forest management schemes. To date, MADANI has completed mapping activities across six villages in three sub-districts and is working to integrate these findings into Kapuas Hulu's regional spatial planning and local development planning processes.

Four Sectors with Sustainable Investment Potential

To support improved livelihoods through the development of a Sustainable Investment Portfolio, MADANI identified high-value local commodities throughout 2024, particularly within the community-based bioenergy sector. These include illipe nuts (tengkawang), rubber seeds, physic nut (Jatropha curcas), and kratom.

In 2025, the initiative expanded its assessment to additional sectors, including fisheries, herbal medicine, food, and ecotourism.

Preliminary findings from the assessment identified sustainable investment opportunities across four key sectors:

First, in the herbal medicine sector, the three most promising commodities are tongkat ali (Eurycoma longifolia), kandis (Garcinia xanthochymus), and coconut.

Second, in the food sector, wild forest honey, durian, and kratom emerged as leading commodities with strong economic potential.

Third, in the fisheries sector, MADANI identified snakehead fish, giant snakehead (toman), and Asian arowana as three priority species with significant development potential in Kapuas Hulu.

Fourth, the ecotourism sector highlighted Melemba Village, Sungai Utik Village, and Tanjung Lasa Village as destinations with strong prospects for further development.

These preliminary findings, generated through focus group discussions with local stakeholders, provide an important foundation for MADANI's continued efforts to support the local government in attracting sustainable investment.

Toward a Sustainability-Based Investment Portfolio

Giorgio Budi Indrarto, Deputy Executive Director of MADANI Berkelanjutan, emphasized the organization's commitment to transforming Kapuas Hulu's existing potential into tangible investment opportunities through comprehensive and well-designed planning.

"MADANI hopes that all of the sectors we have mapped can be documented through an online platform, allowing both domestic and international investors to explore the investment potential of Kapuas Hulu. Through this approach, sustainable investment can become a driver of local economic growth without compromising environmental sustainability," Giorgio explained.

With a clear strategy and the support of multiple stakeholders, Kapuas Hulu has a strong opportunity to become a model for green investment that can be replicated in other regions across Indonesia.