On 8 October 2026, the Center for Climate and Sustainable Finance, Universitas Indonesia (CCSF UI), organized a workshop on “Forest Cover as a Performance Indicator in General Allocation Fund (DAU) Calculations” in South Sorong, Southwest Papua. The workshop aimed to strengthen local government understanding of forest-cover indicators in DAU calculations and explore how ecological performance can support subnational fiscal policy and sustainable development.
Donny N. Bosawer, S.Hut., M.Sc., from the Southwest Papua Forestry Office, presented the province’s forest conditions, conservation areas, and management challenges. He highlighted that approximately 3.47 million hectares, or 88% of Southwest Papua’s land area, are designated as forest areas, underscoring the importance of effective forest governance and reliable spatial data. Meanwhile, Ir. Irnawati, S.Hut., M.P., IPM, from Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong (UNAMIN), discussed forest-cover dynamics in South Sorong and their implications for DAU performance. She emphasized the ecological and fiscal consequences of deforestation, alongside opportunities for sustainable forest-based livelihoods, conservation, and restoration.
Through this workshop, CCSF UI continues to promote the integration of ecological considerations into subnational fiscal governance, recognizing forests not only as ecological assets but also as important contributors to sustainable economic development. Strengthening collaboration among local governments, researchers, and relevant stakeholders is essential to improving forest-cover monitoring, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and advancing fiscal mechanisms that recognize the value of forest conservation.
