Demonstrating Approaches to REDD+ Lessons from the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership

The Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership (KFCP) was a publically funded demonstration project (2009–2013) aimed at rehabilitating degraded peat swamp forests in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. While it did not fully achieve its objective of demonstrating effective rehabilitation at scale, it provided critical technical data, an innovative canal-blocking design, and a model for community engagement through 'Village Agreements'. The study estimates that if such projects can save 26 million tons of carbon over 30 years, they could be financially viable for private investors at carbon prices between AUD 4 and AUD 23 per ton. However, significant barriers remain, including contradictory land-zoning laws, uncertain revenue-sharing frameworks, and the need for robust national measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems.

• The KFCP peatland rehabilitation component concluded in June 2013 without fully achieving its objectives, specifically failing to prove the feasibility of peatland rehabilitation at scale.
• Public finance in the KFCP supported the creation of public goods with high social returns but no immediate profit, including a new technical design for canal blocking and the identification of suitable plant species for reforestation in degraded peatlands.
• The project demonstrated that 'Village Agreements' are an effective model for ensuring the full and effective participation of local communities, which is a requirement for REDD+ activities.
• Preliminary financial analysis suggests that peatland rehabilitation could be viable for commercial investors; saving 26 million tons of verifiable carbon units over 30 years at prices of AUD 4 to AUD 23 per ton could generate annual returns between AUD 3.5 million and AUD 20 million.
• Private investment in Indonesian REDD+ is severely hindered by contradictory spatial planning and land-zoning laws, where the Ministry of Forestry's designations often conflict with regional government plans.
• The absence of a national framework for benefit-sharing, taxation (including VAT), and a transparent measuring, reporting, and verification (MRV) system creates high transaction costs and risks for commercial investors.
• The project's public partnership structure allowed it to bypass typical land-use permitting risks, such as the unpredictable process of obtaining an Ecosystem Restoration Concession (ERC).

APA

Rosenberg, A., & Wilkinson, J. (2013). Demonstrating Approaches to REDD+ Lessons from the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SGG-Case-Study-Lessons-from-the-Kalimantan-Forests-and-Climate-Partnership.pdf

Chicago

Rosenberg, Anja, and Jane Wilkinson. Demonstrating Approaches to REDD+ Lessons from the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership. Climate Policy Initiative, 2013. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SGG-Case-Study-Lessons-from-the-Kalimantan-Forests-and-Climate-Partnership.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rosenberg |first1=Anja |last2=Wilkinson |first2=Jane |title=Demonstrating Approaches to REDD+ Lessons from the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=November 2013 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SGG-Case-Study-Lessons-from-the-Kalimantan-Forests-and-Climate-Partnership.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rosenberg2013demonstrating, author = {Rosenberg, Anja and Wilkinson, Jane}, title = {{Demonstrating Approaches to REDD+ Lessons from the Kalimantan Forests and Climate Partnership}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/SGG-Case-Study-Lessons-from-the-Kalimantan-Forests-and-Climate-Partnership.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }