by Setyawati Fitrianggraeni and Tiara Amanda Putri
Overview
Indonesia’s blue carbon strategy is a key pillar of the country’s blue economy transformation. It aims to absorb up to 10 million tons of CO₂ equivalent per year through mangrove and seagrass ecosystems.(1) With mangrove coverage reaching around 3.4 million hectares and seagrass meadows about 660,000 hectares, these ecosystems can store 3 to 10 times more carbon than tropical forests on land. Most of this carbon is kept in sediment, where it can remain stable over the long term.(2) The implementation of this regulation includes accelerating projects in strategic areas such as the North Coast of Java (Pantura) through the restoration of abandoned fishponds into productive ecosystems using the wanamina (silvofishery) model. This approach combines ecological protection with improved economic benefits for coastal communities, in line with the principles of the blue economy.(3)
The Government, through the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan /KKP), has issued KKP Decree No. 25/2026 as a technical guideline for determining project locations. This aims to provide legal certainty for investors and reduce cross-sector bureaucratic barriers, which have long been fragmented. This regulation serves as a vital instrument for implementing Carbon Economic Value (Nilai Ekonomi Karbon/NEK), supporting the achievement of Indonesia’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (SNDC) targets by strengthening emissions baseline data and ensuring a transparent registry system.(4) This management framework is integrated with mandatory marine spatial planning through the approval of marine space utilization conformity (Persetujuan Kesesuaian Kegiatan Pemanfaatan Ruang Laut/PKKPRL) and the Carbon Unit Registry System (Sistem Registri Unit Karbon/SRUK). This is intended to safeguard national sovereignty over carbon data and prevent double claiming in the international carbon market.(1)
Key Highlights
- Determining Blue Carbon Management Locations
The determination of blue carbon management locations is a structured process to prepare technical documents that serve as the basis for planning climate change mitigation and adaptation actions in the marine sector. This process is carried out by a Location Assessment Team established by the Minister, head of an agency, or the Governor within their authority, involving government representatives, academics, local communities, and indigenous peoples. The stages include collecting primary and secondary data through literature review and FGDs, conducting spatial and ecological analysis using satellite imagery (minimum scale 1:50,000), field verification through GPS tracking and interviews to validate actual conditions, and public consultations to ensure stakeholder agreement before the location is formally determined through a Ministerial Decree.(2)
- Eligibility Criteria for Management Locations Based on Chapter I of KKP Decree No. 25/2026, the location determination criteria serve as a comprehensive evaluation standard to assess whether an area is eligible to be included in NDC calculations and accountable carbon trading schemes.(2) This evaluation is carried out by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) in coordination with relevant ministries, such as the Ministry of Forestry and ATR/BPN, to synchronize land status data that has long been managed by different authorities.(4) In determining blue carbon management locations, five key criteria are applied, covering the inclusion of blue carbon ecosystems in spatial planning and/or zoning plans, land status and legal compliance, socio-economic support, biophysical conditions (including the level of degradation and accessibility), and synergy with other ongoing or planned activities in the area.(2)
- Integration of Marine Spatial Planning and Carbon Registry System This regulatory integration serves as a synchronization mechanism between territorial legality and carbon market instruments to ensure that each carbon unit meets additionality requirements and supports long-term sustainability. The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) acts as the technical coordinator, working closely with the Ministry of Environment to monitor the implementation of carbon mitigation actions on the ground.(4) The implementation mechanism requires every project developer to obtain PKKPRL as the main legal prerequisite for site approval. All planned activities must then be registered in the Carbon Unit Registry System (SRUK),(1) and the National Registry System (SRN) to ensure data transparency, prevent leakage risks, and protect Indonesia’s national contribution targets from external claims.(4)
References
1. Siaran Pers Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan Republik Indonesia Nomor: SP.105/SJ.5/IV/2026. 2026. KKP Proyeksikan Ekosistem Karbon Biru Serap 10 Juta Ton CO2 per Tahun. Available from: https://kkp.go.id/news/news-detail/kkp-proyeksikan-ekosistem-karbon-biru-serap-10-juta-ton-co2-per-tahun-z7lr.html
2. Decree of the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries of the Republic of Indonesia No. 25 of 2026 on Guidelines for Determining Blue Carbon Management Locations.
3. Direktorat Jenderal Pengelolaan Kelautan. 2026. KKP Perkuat Koordinasi Percepatan Proyek Karbon Biru Mangrove di Pantura Jawa. Available from: https://kkp.go.id/djpk/kkp-perkuat-koordinasi-percepatan-proyek-karbon-biru-mangrove-di-pantura-jawa-mYXp/detail.html
4. S A. National Geographic Indonesia. 2026. Karbon Biru Indonesia: Jadi Buruan Investor, tapi Aturannya Berlapis. Available from: https://nationalgeographic.grid.id/read/134371379/karbon-biru-indonesia-jadi-buruan-investor-tapi-aturannya-berlapis
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