akar.earthForest Carbon and EUDR in Highland Papua
Forest carbon in Highland Papua: Baliem Valley, Lorentz montane forest, Wamena coffee, customary clan land, high-forest low-deforestation fit and EUDR.
Highland Papua, created in 2022 with Wamena as its capital, is Indonesia’s only landlocked province: steep montane forest, alpine grassland and densely farmed valleys such as the Baliem. Forest protection under clan management and high-forest low-deforestation approaches fit best, with coffee agroforestry as a smaller option. EUDR exposure is very small.
What the split means
Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan) was formed from Papua province in 2022. It includes Jayawijaya, Lanny Jaya, Nduga, Tolikara, Yalimo, Mamberamo Tengah, Yahukimo and Pegunungan Bintang. Earlier data labelled “Papua” includes this area.
Forest and land cover profile
The province lies in New Guinea’s central cordillera. Landscapes include:
- The Baliem Valley around Wamena: a large, densely settled highland valley, farmed for centuries with sweet potato in drained and mounded fields.
- Montane and upper montane forest: covering most slopes, with Nothofagus (southern beech), conifers and moss forest at higher elevations.
- Alpine grassland and shrubland: above the treeline on the highest ranges.
- Lorentz National Park: extends into the province’s highlands, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning several provinces.
- Lowland forest in the south and north of some regencies, such as Yahukimo and Mamberamo Tengah, where rivers descend from the mountains.
Montane forest holds less biomass per hectare than lowland rainforest, but it protects steep slopes, rivers and water supply for valley communities.
Peat and mangroves
There are no mangroves in this landlocked province. Some montane peat and swamp occur in highland valleys and wetlands, but on a small scale.
Main commodities and drivers of land-use change
- Coffee: arabica from the Baliem Valley (sold as Wamena coffee) and other highland areas, grown by smallholders in gardens. See arabica coffee.
- Sweet potato, vegetables and pigs: the core of the highland food economy. Not EUDR commodities.
- Timber: local use; very limited commercial logging.
Forest loss is low. Drivers include expansion of gardens, firewood collection, roads such as the Trans-Papua highway, and town growth around Wamena.
Which carbon project types fit
| Project type | Fit in Highland Papua | Key issue |
|---|---|---|
| High-forest low-deforestation (jurisdictional) | Whole province | Jurisdictional capacity |
| Customary forest protection | Clan territories with montane forest | Recognition, security, benefit sharing |
| Coffee agroforestry | Baliem Valley and surrounding highlands | Small volumes, market access |
| Watershed restoration | Degraded slopes near towns and roads | Small area |
Standard project-scale REDD+ is difficult because historical deforestation is low. Jurisdictional high-forest low-deforestation approaches such as ART TREES HFLD reward provinces that keep forest intact. See the REDD+ hub.
Coffee agroforestry can raise incomes and tree cover together. See coffee agroforestry carbon.
EUDR exposure
EUDR exposure is very small. Arabica coffee is the only notable covered commodity, sold mostly domestically and to specialty buyers. Buyers exporting to the EU need plot geolocation for each garden, evidence of no deforestation since 31 December 2020 and legal land status, which in Highland Papua means documented customary land rights. See EUDR and coffee.
Customary land and security
Land is held by clans under customary law. The Dani (Hubula), Lani, Yali, Nduga and other peoples live in the province. Customary decision-making involves clan leaders and community meetings, and consent processes must work in local languages and through local institutions.
Security conditions in several regencies, notably Nduga and parts of Lanny Jaya and Yahukimo, restrict access and fieldwork. Projects must assess risk carefully and must never put staff or communities in danger.
Permenhut 6/2026 confirms customary forests as legitimate carbon participants. See customary forest carbon.
Logistics
Most of the province is reachable only by air. Wamena has road links to some districts, but many villages require small aircraft or walking. Satellite monitoring with limited, carefully planned field plots is the realistic monitoring approach.
Why intact forest still needs finance
A common objection to forest finance in Highland Papua is that the forest is not under threat. That is only partly true. Roads, town growth and new administrative centres created by the 2022 split are already changing land use near Wamena and other towns. Customary communities also face costs in keeping forest intact while incomes stay low. Finance that rewards conservation, supports land recognition and funds local monitoring can help keep forest standing as development arrives. Our carbon strategy service helps funders decide whether jurisdictional or project approaches fit.
Practical next steps
Confirm boundaries, map clan territories and assess security for field access. Compare with Papua and South Papua, and see the forest carbon hub.
Frequently asked questions
When was Highland Papua created?
Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan) was split from Papua in 2022. Its capital is Wamena in the Baliem Valley, and it is Indonesia's only landlocked province.
Which carbon project types fit Highland Papua?
Forest protection under customary management, high-forest low-deforestation jurisdictional approaches, and coffee agroforestry in the Baliem Valley and surrounding highlands.
What is Highland Papua's EUDR exposure?
Very small. Highland arabica coffee is the only significant covered commodity, and most is sold domestically or to specialty buyers.