The Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force) is organizing a Technical Exchange to be hosted by West Kalimantan, Indonesia from September 7 – 10, 2026. The theme, “Public – Private Collaboration in Conservation and Restoration,” highlights the need to involve the private sector in order to achieve meaningful conservation and restoration outcomes at the jurisdictional scale.
The private sector brings not only capital, but also supply chain influence, market access, and operational capacity that government agencies cannot replicate alone. This is where the concept of the New Forest Economy becomes a powerful frame: it envisions a future where standing forests and restored landscapes generate sustained economic value through sustainable commodities, ecosystem services, carbon markets, and nature-based enterprises, making conservation financially competitive with conversion. This vision is already taking shape within GCF Task Force member jurisdictions through concrete models; therefore, the New Forest Economy is not simply an environmental ambition, but an economic transformation – one that GCF Task Force members are actively building from the ground up.
The GCF Task Force Technical Exchange will be held alongside Festival Lestari #6 (Sustainable Festival #6), which is organized by Lingkar Temu Kabupaten Lestari (Sustainable District Association; LTKL). Festival Lestari is a cross-sectoral forum to promote sustainable development by highlighting local wisdom.
Check back regularly for updates!
Agenda
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
08:30-10:00 WIB
Opening Session
• Opening remarks by the Governor of West Kalimantan.
• Launch BLUD Guide.
BLUD stand for Badan Layanan Umum Daerah or Regional Public Service Agency.
10:30-12:00 WIB
Public-private partnership in West Kalimantan
Topics and speakers include:
• Green Climate Fund project – Adi Yani, Head of Department of Environment and Forestry (Dinas Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan, DLHK), West Kalimantan
• Mata Pandawa Biosphere Reserve – Prof. Farah Diba, Tanjungpura University
• Social forestry carbon project – Fajri, Sampan
• Requesting Authority program – Ari Suharo, Director, Batari
13:00 - 14:00 WIB
Supporting Mitigation and Adaptation through BLUD
14:00 - 17:00 WIB
Restoration and Conservation Initiatives
Topics and speakers include:
• Rimba Collective - Nindita, Lestari Capital
• Herencia Maya - Neyra Silva Rosada, Secretary of Sustainable Development, Yucatán, Mexico
• Produce, Preserve, and Include (Produzir Conservar e Incluir, PCI) - Alex Marega, Executive Secretary for the Environment, Mato Grosso, Brazil
• Conservation fund in Tarija - Vice-governor Gonzalo Avila, Tarija, Bolivia
• Crown Jewel of Papua - Charlie Heatubun, Regional Research and Innovation Agency (Bidang Riset dan Inovasi Daerah), West Papua, Indonesia
• Amazon Future Fund - Bruno Paladines, Country Director Ecuador, GCF Task Force
19:00 - 21:00
Welcome Dinner
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
08:30-12:00 WIB
Leveraging Markets to Protect Natural Infrastructure: Carbon Markets and Nature-Based Solutions
-Private sector role in Article 6 : Bjorn Fonden (International Emission Trading Association)
-Multistakeholder role in ART/TREES : Arif Budiman (ART Secretariat)
-High Integrity Carbon Project in Brazil : Carlos Aragon
-California Cap and Invest : Shannon Dilley (California Air Resources Board)
-Private sector potential role in J-REDD+, lessons from FCPF: Prof. Daddy Ruhiyat (East Kalimantan’s Climate Change Council)
-ASEAN Net Zero Hub : Rifki Weno (ASEAN BAC)
13:00-16:00 WIB
Sustainable Commodities
• Perspective buyers: Claire Prescott (CDP)
• Guardian Forestal - Alejandro Mendez (Michoacan –Mexico)
• Huanuco: Business Alliance for the Amazon - Luis Briceno (Huanuco–Peru)
• Sustainable Palm Oil - Central Kalimantan
• Sustainable Rubber Production: Olam Agri
• Sustainable Cattle - Juan Pablo Jaramillo (Caqueta–Colombia)
• Tengkawang - Marscha(Forest-Wise)
Thursday, September 10, 2026
09:00 - 11:30 WIB
Integrated Fire Management, Forest Fire Risk Mapping, Early Warnings, Responses and Impacts
Trip to see mangrove restoration efforts with the Regent of Kubu Raya Regency.
11:30 - 12:00
Closing Session