LULUCF: Indonesia’s Secret Weapon in the Fight Against the Climate Crisis

More Than 50% of Indonesia's GHG Emissions Come from the LULUCF Sector

Did you know that more than 50% of Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions come from the LULUCF sector, which stands for land use, land-use change, and forestry? This figure is not just a statistic. It means that the way Indonesia manages its forests and land will determine whether national climate targets are achieved or missed by a wide margin.

In fact, the government has set the FOLU Net Sink 2030 target, a condition in which the forestry and land sector can absorb more carbon than it releases. Without effective management of LULUCF, this goal will be difficult to achieve.

What Is LULUCF?

LULUCF stands for Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry.

In simple terms, it covers all human activities that affect forests and land. Examples include:

• Clearing forests for plantations or mining.
• Draining peatlands for agriculture.
• Reforestation or maintaining forest conservation.

Every change brings consequences. Healthy forests act as carbon sinks, while deforestation and forest degradation release large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, accelerating global warming.

Why Is LULUCF Important for the Climate?

There are three main reasons why this sector is a global focus, especially in Indonesia:

1. Largest emission contributor: Land clearing and forest fires make LULUCF responsible for more than half of Indonesia’s total emissions.
2. Natural solution potential: Indonesia’s tropical forests are among the largest carbon sinks in the world.
3. Backbone of national climate goals: LULUCF underpins Indonesia’s NDC (Nationally Determined Contribution) and is key to achieving FOLU Net Sink 2030.

In short, LULUCF is both a challenge and a solution in Indonesia’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

Examples of LULUCF Practices in Indonesia

Several practices on the ground show how LULUCF can have both positive and negative impacts:

Deforestation‍

Forest clearing for palm oil expansion or infrastructure development releases millions of tons of carbon emissions every year.

Reforestation & Forest Rehabilitation‍

Tree planting programs in critical areas, including mangrove forests, not only absorb carbon but also protect biodiversity.

Agroforestry‍

Combining agriculture with shade trees maintains productivity while improving soil and water quality.

Peatland Restoration

Drained peatlands are major emission sources, but when restored, they can store significant amounts of carbon.

How Technology Helps Manage LULUCF

Managing a sector of this scale cannot rely solely on manual surveys. Real-time and accurate data are needed to ensure evidence-based decisions. Some of the technologies that support this effort include:

• Satellites → monitor land cover changes quickly and at scale.
• LiDAR → measure vegetation structure, tree height, and canopy density.
• IoT sensors → record soil moisture, air quality, and micro-environmental conditions in forests.
• AI & Big Data → process satellite and sensor data to make them easier to interpret for decision-making.

Read also: How Jejakin Uses IoT for Forest Monitoring

Jejakin’s Role in LULUCF

Jejakin introduced CarbonAtlas, a data-driven monitoring platform that integrates satellites, IoT, and artificial intelligence (AI).

With CarbonAtlas, governments, businesses, and communities can:

• View forest and land conditions transparently.
• Measure carbon emissions and absorption accurately.
• Produce reports that meet international standards.

More than just an analytical tool, CarbonAtlas serves as a foundation for data-driven policymaking and decision-making, supporting more effective and sustainable LULUCF management.

Conclusion

LULUCF is not merely a technical term in climate reports. In Indonesia, this sector defines the future. How forests and lands are managed will affect the climate, economy, and people’s daily lives.

With the support of technology, transparent data, and platforms like CarbonAtlas by Jejakin, LULUCF management can become more effective, fair, and sustainable.

Let’s work together to make LULUCF not part of the problem, but the key climate solution for generations to come.