akar.earthForest Carbon and EUDR in North Kalimantan
Forest carbon in North Kalimantan: Kayan Mentarang and Heart of Borneo forests, Sesayap delta mangroves, palm oil and timber, project fit and EUDR.
North Kalimantan still has very high forest cover, from Kayan Mentarang National Park on the Malaysian border to large mangrove deltas on the coast, so REDD+, high-forest low-deforestation approaches and blue carbon all fit. EUDR exposure is moderate, centred on palm oil in Nunukan and Bulungan and on timber from logging concessions.
Forest and land cover profile
North Kalimantan was created in 2012 from the northern part of East Kalimantan. It borders Sabah and Sarawak. The interior is mountainous and sparsely populated, with lowland, hill and montane dipterocarp forest.
Kayan Mentarang National Park is one of the largest protected areas in Borneo, covering rugged forest in Malinau and Nunukan. It was among the first Indonesian parks set up with collaborative management involving Dayak customary institutions. The Krayan highlands nearby are known for rice terraces and highland agriculture.
Outside the park, large interior forests are under logging concessions or are unallocated forest estate. Much of this lies within the trilateral Heart of Borneo initiative area.
Peat and mangroves
Peat is limited. Mangroves are extensive. The deltas of the Sesayap, Kayan and Sembakung rivers, and the coasts around Tarakan, Bulungan and Nunukan, hold large mangrove and nipah forests. Some have been converted to shrimp ponds, which supply a significant export trade.
Mangrove conservation and pond rehabilitation are strong options here. See the blue carbon hub and VM0033.
Main commodities and drivers of forest loss
- Oil palm: estates and smallholders in Nunukan and Bulungan, with expansion in recent years.
- Timber: natural forest logging concessions in the interior.
- Shrimp aquaculture: in the coastal deltas, driving mangrove conversion. Not an EUDR commodity.
- Coal and other mining: in some districts.
- Highland rice and other crops: in Krayan and other interior areas.
Large planned developments, including hydropower on the Kayan river and an industrial estate in Bulungan, could drive future land-use change. Road building into the interior also opens forest to clearing.
Which carbon project types fit
| Project type | Fit in North Kalimantan | Key issue |
|---|---|---|
| REDD+ | Interior forest outside protected areas, near new roads and plantations | Credible threat in a high-forest area |
| Improved forest management | Natural forest logging concessions | Concession participation |
| Mangrove conservation and restoration | Sesayap, Kayan and Sembakung deltas | Pond economics, tenure |
| Customary forest protection | Dayak territories in Malinau and Krayan | Recognition of customary rights |
In high-forest provinces, historical deforestation is low, which makes standard REDD+ baselines hard to justify. Jurisdictional approaches designed for high-forest low-deforestation (HFLD) areas, such as ART TREES HFLD, may suit the province as a whole better than individual projects. See the REDD+ hub.
EUDR exposure
- Palm oil: newer plantings mean that the 31 December 2020 cut-off is a real issue. Plots planted on forest land after that date cannot supply the EU. Smallholders need plot registration and geolocation. See EUDR and palm oil.
- Wood: timber from natural forest concessions needs harvest-area geolocation and legality evidence. Concessions with good spatial records are well placed. See EUDR and wood.
Customary land and social forestry
Dayak Lundayeh, Kenyah, Kayan, Punan, Tidung and other groups live in North Kalimantan. Customary territories cover much of the interior, and some communities have mapped their land and sought recognition as customary forests (hutan adat). Social forestry licences, including village forests, have been granted in Malinau and elsewhere.
Permenhut 6/2026 names customary forests and social forestry groups as legitimate carbon participants. In North Kalimantan, where customary communities manage much of the forest, they are natural project partners or proponents. See customary forest carbon.
Logistics and monitoring
The interior is remote, often reachable only by river or small aircraft. That raises field costs and favours monitoring that leans on satellite data, with targeted field plots. See remote sensing biomass. Field campaigns need careful planning around river levels and weather.
Cross-border context
North Kalimantan borders Sabah and Sarawak, and the forest and wildlife are continuous across the border. Cross-border trade, labour migration to Malaysian plantations and shared river systems influence land use. Projects near the border should consider leakage across it.
The Krayan highlands show another side of the province. Lundayeh farmers grow highland rice in irrigated fields surrounded by forest, and keep forest on the slopes to protect water. That farming system has kept forest cover high for generations, and it gives a strong basis for community forest protection that rewards existing stewardship rather than only reacting to threats.
Practical next steps
Map permits, planned infrastructure and customary claims together. Compare with East Kalimantan, and see the forest carbon hub.
Frequently asked questions
What makes North Kalimantan important for forest carbon?
It has high forest cover, including Kayan Mentarang National Park and large interior forests in the Heart of Borneo, plus extensive mangroves on its coast. That makes it a candidate for REDD+, high-forest low-deforestation approaches and blue carbon.
When was North Kalimantan created?
North Kalimantan (Kalimantan Utara) was split from East Kalimantan in 2012, making it Indonesia's youngest province before the 2022 Papua splits.
What is North Kalimantan's EUDR exposure?
Mainly palm oil from Nunukan and Bulungan, and wood from logging concessions. Volumes are smaller than in older plantation provinces.