akar.earthForest Carbon and EUDR in South Papua
Forest carbon in South Papua: Wasur savanna, Asmat mangroves, Merauke food estate and oil palm in Boven Digoel, customary land, project fit and EUDR exposure.
South Papua, created in 2022, holds vast lowland forest, swamps, savanna and one of the world’s great mangrove coasts in Asmat, but it is also the site of Indonesia’s largest current agricultural frontier in Merauke and oil palm in Boven Digoel. Customary forest protection and mangrove conservation are the main carbon opportunities, and EUDR exposure is concentrated in palm oil with a high risk of post-2020 clearing.
What the split means
South Papua (Papua Selatan) was formed from Papua province in 2022. Merauke is the capital, and the province includes Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi and Asmat. Earlier datasets labelled “Papua” include it, so check boundaries.
Forest and land cover profile
South Papua is mostly flat, low-lying land along the Arafura Sea, drained by large rivers such as the Digul and Eilanden.
- Asmat and Mappi: tidal and freshwater swamp forest, lowland rainforest and very extensive mangroves.
- Boven Digoel: lowland rainforest on the Digul river, increasingly opened by roads and plantations.
- Merauke: a drier, monsoonal south with savanna, open eucalypt and Melaleuca woodland, seasonal wetlands and grassland, more like northern Australia than the rest of Indonesia.
- Wasur National Park: savanna, swamps and wetlands near the Papua New Guinea border, a Ramsar wetland important for waterbirds and wallabies.
- Lorentz National Park: extends into Asmat, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning several provinces.
Peat and mangroves
The Asmat and Mappi coast holds some of the most extensive and intact mangroves in Indonesia, backed by swamp forest and some peat. Pressure is currently low, but new roads and development could change that. Mangrove conservation here is a strong blue carbon option, though logistics are very difficult.
Main commodities and drivers of forest loss
- Food estate: national strategic plans for large sugar cane and rice developments in Merauke involve clearing forest, savanna and wetland at large scale. Sugar and rice are not EUDR commodities.
- Oil palm: plantations in Boven Digoel and Merauke.
- Timber: logging and clearing ahead of plantations.
- Sago, fisheries and hunting: the base of local livelihoods.
The main driver of forest loss is large-scale agricultural development. An earlier integrated food and energy estate plan in Merauke in the 2010s was only partly realised; the newer food estate plans are larger and have moved faster.
Which carbon project types fit
| Project type | Fit in South Papua | Key issue |
|---|---|---|
| Customary forest protection | Clan territories in Boven Digoel, Mappi, Asmat | Overlap with permits and national projects |
| Mangrove conservation | Asmat and Mappi coast | Remote logistics |
| Savanna and wetland fire management | Merauke and Wasur | Complex measurement |
| REDD+ | Forest under plantation pressure | Policy and permit uncertainty |
REDD+ in areas allocated to national strategic projects faces a basic problem: the government may proceed regardless. Additionality and permanence depend on land status and whether the area can legally be protected. See additionality and the REDD+ hub.
EUDR exposure
- Palm oil: plantations in Boven Digoel and Merauke include recent plantings on cleared forest. Plots deforested after 31 December 2020 cannot supply the EU. Disputed customary consent is a legality risk. See EUDR and palm oil and palm oil risk assessment.
- Wood: timber from clearing needs harvest-area geolocation and legality evidence.
Buyers sourcing palm oil from South Papua should expect close scrutiny and high-resolution checks of plot history.
Customary land
Land belongs to clans under customary law. The Marind Anim in Merauke, the Awyu, Muyu and Wambon in Boven Digoel, and the Asmat and other peoples on the coast hold customary territories. Customary landholders have challenged plantation permits and food estate clearing, including through the courts.
Permenhut 6/2026 names customary forests as legitimate carbon participants. For communities seeking to keep forest standing, carbon finance can offer an alternative income, but only if land status allows protection and consent is genuine. See customary forest carbon.
Savanna is not degraded forest
Much of Merauke is natural savanna and wetland. Planting trees on natural grassland harms biodiversity and may reduce water, and buyers increasingly reject such credits. ARR should target genuinely degraded forest land, not intact savanna. Fire management in Wasur’s savanna can reduce emissions, but measurement is complex.
Practical next steps
Map clan territories, permits and national project allocations before any planning. Compare with Highland Papua and Central Papua, and see the forest carbon hub.
Frequently asked questions
When was South Papua created?
South Papua (Papua Selatan) was split from Papua in 2022. It includes Merauke, Boven Digoel, Mappi and Asmat, with Merauke as the capital.
What is driving forest loss in South Papua?
Large-scale agricultural development, including national food estate plans for sugar cane and rice in Merauke and oil palm in Boven Digoel, is the main driver. These developments have been challenged by customary landholders.
What is South Papua's EUDR exposure?
Mainly oil palm from Boven Digoel and Merauke, plus wood. Sugar cane and rice are not EUDR commodities. Recent clearing means the 31 December 2020 cut-off is a real test.