akar.earthForest Carbon and EUDR in Southwest Papua
Forest carbon in Southwest Papua: Raja Ampat and Tambrauw, Sorong forests and mangroves, Moi customary land, oil palm permits, project fit and EUDR exposure.
Southwest Papua, created from West Papua in 2022, combines the world-famous reefs and island forests of Raja Ampat with large lowland forests in Sorong, South Sorong, Maybrat and Tambrauw. Customary forest protection, especially on land where plantation permits have been revoked or disputed, and mangrove conservation are the main carbon opportunities. EUDR exposure is concentrated in oil palm.
What the split means
Southwest Papua (Papua Barat Daya) covers the western Bird’s Head peninsula and Raja Ampat: Sorong city, Sorong regency, South Sorong, Maybrat, Tambrauw and Raja Ampat. Sorong is the capital. Data published before 2022 places these areas in West Papua, so check which boundaries any map or statistic uses.
Forest and land cover profile
- Raja Ampat: island forests on karst and ultramafic soils, mangroves, seagrass and some of the world’s richest coral reefs. Much of the sea is in marine protected areas.
- Tambrauw: mountainous, heavily forested and declared a conservation regency by its local government. Its northern beaches are important nesting sites for leatherback turtles.
- Sorong and South Sorong: lowland rainforest, swamp forest and sago swamps, with oil palm and logging permits.
- Maybrat: inland hill and lowland forest and lakes.
Forest cover is high, and historical deforestation is low by national standards.
Peat and mangroves
Peat and swamp forest occur in South Sorong lowlands. Mangroves are extensive along South Sorong’s coast and around Raja Ampat’s islands. Raja Ampat’s seagrass meadows also store carbon in sediment. Blue carbon conservation links well with existing marine conservation in Raja Ampat. See the blue carbon hub and seagrass carbon.
Main commodities and drivers of forest loss
- Oil palm: plantation permits in Sorong and South Sorong. Some have been revoked after provincial permit reviews, and several are disputed by customary landholders.
- Timber: logging in lowland forests.
- Nickel: mining on some small islands in Raja Ampat drew national attention in 2025 because of its impact on a globally important marine area.
- Sago, fisheries and tourism: the core local economy. Not EUDR commodities.
Main drivers of loss are plantation clearing, logging, roads and, locally, mining.
Which carbon project types fit
| Project type | Fit in Southwest Papua | Key issue |
|---|---|---|
| Customary forest protection | Moi and other clan territories in Sorong and South Sorong | Recognition, permit status |
| REDD+ on revoked permit areas | Former plantation concessions | Showing a credible future threat |
| Mangrove and seagrass conservation | Raja Ampat, South Sorong coast | Integration with marine protected areas |
| Sago and agroforestry | Lowland villages | Measurement methods for sago |
Revoked permits are a special case. If land could be reallocated to plantations, protecting it as customary forest can avoid real emissions. But baselines must show that reallocation is plausible, not just theoretical. See the REDD+ hub and baseline setting.
EUDR exposure
- Palm oil: estates in Sorong and South Sorong. Plantings after 31 December 2020 cannot supply the EU if they replaced forest. Legality requires valid permits and evidence of customary consent where relevant. Disputed permits create legality risk for buyers. See EUDR and palm oil.
- Wood: timber from logging concessions needs harvest-area geolocation and legality evidence.
Customary land
The Moi people around Sorong, and Tehit, Maybrat, Abun, Ma’ya and other groups, hold land by clan (marga) under customary law. Moi communities have sought legal recognition of their customary territories and challenged plantation permits. Special autonomy recognises customary rights.
Permenhut 6/2026 names customary forests as legitimate carbon participants. Here, the customary landholders are the natural project owners. Projects must map clan boundaries, resolve overlaps and agree benefit-sharing within and between clans. See customary forest carbon.
Logistics
Raja Ampat and inland Tambrauw are remote and expensive to reach. Combining satellite monitoring with targeted field plots, and training local monitors, keeps costs under control.
Marine and land links
Raja Ampat’s reefs depend on clean water from island forests and mangroves. Mining and clearing on small islands send sediment onto reefs. Protecting island forests and mangroves therefore supports reef health, tourism and fisheries as well as carbon. Projects here can link land and sea conservation under one plan.
Practical next steps
Confirm post-2022 boundaries, map clan territories and the status of every permit, and test baseline threat. Compare with West Papua and North Maluku across the sea, and see the forest carbon hub.
Frequently asked questions
When was Southwest Papua created?
Southwest Papua (Papua Barat Daya) was split from West Papua in 2022. It includes Sorong city and regency, Raja Ampat, Tambrauw, Maybrat and South Sorong.
Which carbon project types fit Southwest Papua?
Protection of lowland and hill forest under customary management, especially where oil palm or mining permits have been revoked or are disputed, mangrove and seagrass conservation in Raja Ampat and South Sorong, and sago and agroforestry systems.
What is Southwest Papua's EUDR exposure?
Mainly oil palm in Sorong and South Sorong, plus wood. Fisheries, nickel and sago are not covered.