Residents Guard Bujang Raba Forest from Karhutla, Minister of Forestry Prepares Equipment for Five Village Forests

JAMBI, GARISBUMI.com – Residents' efforts to protect the forest in the Bujang Raba Landscape, Bungo Regency, Jambi, have received the attention of Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni. During his visit on Monday (28/9/2026), he mentioned community involvement as the key to preventing forest and land fires (karhutla).

Bujang Raba covers five village forests with an area of around 7,292 hectares. A total of 1,183 family heads are helping to protect the area with the assistance of the Warsi Indonesian Conservation Community (KKI).

"If the village community is empowered and invited to participate together, the forest will be protected," said Raja Juli.

According to him, the Bujang Raba area has experienced fires and illegal logging. The residents then agreed to protect the forest together. He believes that public awareness needs to be supported by law enforcement so that efforts to prevent forest and land fires are effective.

As support, the Ministry of Forestry will send fire fighting equipment to five village forests in the Bujang Raba Landscape, namely Lubuk Beringin, Laman Panjang, Buat, Sungai Telang, and Senamat Ulu.

Protecting Forests, Opening Carbon Revenue Opportunities

Bujang Raba is part of the Bukit Panjang Rantau Bayur protected forest which is managed by the community through a social forestry scheme. Apart from maintaining forest cover, this area is undergoing a process to trade carbon units.

Approval for the issuance of the Bujang Raba carbon unit reaches 238,281 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) in an area of around 6,634 hectares. However, the potential income from carbon has not yet become a sales result.

Raja Juli estimates the value could reach around IDR 30 billion if all carbon units are sold. He said the Ministry of Forestry was ready to help overcome obstacles in the field, including encouraging market access.

"If logging makes a profit, and maintaining it also makes a profit, it's definitely better to look after it. That's what we ensure together, that the community gets something from protecting the forest," he said.

The Bujang Raba carbon trading process was stopped in 2021 while waiting for special regulations. After the issuance of Presidential Regulation Number 110 of 2025 and Minister of Forestry Regulation Number 6 of 2026, this area received approval for the issuance of Non-SPE carbon units in July 2026. Currently, the project documents are still being processed in the Carbon Unit Registry System (SRUK).