Forest Carbon and EUDR in North Sulawesi

Updated 2026-11-02 · 3 min read · By the akar.earth specialist team

Forest carbon in North Sulawesi: Tangkoko and Bogani Nani Wartabone forests, Bunaken mangroves, coconut, clove and nutmeg, project fit and low EUDR exposure.

North Sulawesi’s forest carbon potential lies in tree-rich coconut, clove and nutmeg gardens, upland forest around Bogani Nani Wartabone and Tangkoko, and coastal mangroves around Bunaken and the Sangihe-Talaud islands. Its EUDR exposure is low because its main crops are not covered, though some cocoa, coffee and wood are.

Forest and land cover profile

North Sulawesi covers the north-eastern arm of Sulawesi, from Bolaang Mongondow to Minahasa, plus the Sangihe and Talaud island chains reaching towards the Philippines. Volcanoes such as Klabat, Lokon and Soputan shape the Minahasa region.

Forest types include lowland and hill rainforest, montane forest and coastal forest. Key areas:

• Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park, shared with Gorontalo, the largest protected forest on the northern arm.
• Tangkoko Batuangus nature reserve near Bitung, known for crested black macaques and tarsiers.
• Bunaken National Park, mainly marine, with mangroves and coral reefs off Manado.

North Sulawesi sits in Wallacea. Endemic species such as the maleo, anoa and babirusa give projects strong biodiversity co-benefit potential; see the biodiversity hub.

Peat and mangroves

There is no significant peat. Mangroves line sheltered coasts around Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow and the Sangihe-Talaud islands. They support fisheries and protect coasts from storms. Pressure comes from coastal development, ponds and firewood. Mangrove conservation and restoration are realistic; see blue carbon.

Main commodities and drivers of land-use change

• Coconut: North Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s main coconut and copra provinces. See coconut.
• Clove: grown widely in Minahasa, with high value. See clove.
• Nutmeg: especially on the Sangihe and Siau islands. See nutmeg.
• Cocoa and coffee: smaller volumes in Bolaang Mongondow and Minahasa uplands.
• Gold mining: both licensed and informal, in several districts.

Forest loss drivers include farm expansion at forest edges, small-scale gold mining (which also pollutes rivers with mercury), and hunting pressure on wildlife. Large-scale plantation conversion is less significant here than in Sumatra or Kalimantan.

Which carbon project types fit

Coconut, clove and nutmeg are tree crops, so many gardens already hold substantial carbon. Agroforestry credits come only from additional trees or improved management, not from existing stocks. Interplanting timber, fruit and nut trees under or between coconuts is a common approach. See the agroforestry hub.

EUDR exposure

EUDR exposure is low. Coconut, clove and nutmeg are not on the EUDR list. Covered commodities are:

• Cocoa and coffee: smaller volumes from upland districts.
• Wood: timber from smallholder and forest sources.

Exporters of these need plot geolocation, evidence of no deforestation since 31 December 2020 and legality evidence. See EUDR and cocoa.

Customary land and social forestry

Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, Sangihe and other communities have customary land traditions. Village forests and community forests have been granted in some districts. Permenhut 6/2026 recognises social forestry groups and customary communities as legitimate carbon participants. See social forestry carbon.

Coconut agroforestry in practice

Most coconut gardens in North Sulawesi are old, with tall palms planted decades ago, and many are underplanted with nothing more than grass or a few clove trees. That leaves room below and between the palms for more trees. Common options include clove, nutmeg, cocoa, fruit trees such as durian and rambutan, and timber species. Each adds biomass and diversifies income. For carbon accounting, coconut palms themselves are part of the baseline, so credits come only from the trees added and their growth over the crediting period. Palms also need different allometric equations from broadleaf trees. Replanting ageing coconut stands is a separate decision, and clearing old palms can temporarily lower carbon stocks. Plans should phase replanting so total stocks keep rising. See allometric equations.

Gold mining and mercury

Small-scale gold mining affects forests and rivers in Bolaang Mongondow and other districts. It clears forest, silts rivers and uses mercury. Projects near mining areas need to address these livelihoods and land claims directly.

Practical next steps

Start with land cover history and land status checks, and decide whether agroforestry or mangrove work gives the best mix of carbon and co-benefits. Compare with Gorontalo and North Maluku, and see the forest carbon hub.