Forest Carbon and EUDR in West Sulawesi

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

Forest carbon in West Sulawesi: Gandang Dewata and Mamasa uplands, cocoa, oil palm and coffee, coastal mangroves, agroforestry fit and EUDR exposure explained.

West Sulawesi’s forest carbon potential lies in the upland forests of the Gandang Dewata and Mamasa highlands, cocoa and coffee agroforestry and coastal mangrove restoration. Its EUDR exposure is significant for its size: cocoa, palm oil and coffee are all important crops.

Forest and land cover profile

West Sulawesi runs along the Makassar Strait coast of Sulawesi’s western side, from Polewali Mandar in the south to Pasangkayu in the north. It was created from South Sulawesi in 2004. The interior is mountainous, rising to the Gandang Dewata massif, one of the higher mountain areas in Sulawesi.

Forest types range from lowland rainforest on the coastal hills to montane forest in the Mamasa and Gandang Dewata highlands. Much of the upland forest is protection forest that feeds the province’s rivers. The highlands also hold Wallacean endemic species, including anoa and Sulawesi’s endemic birds, which supports biodiversity claims.

Peat and mangroves

There is no significant peat. Mangroves fringe parts of the coast, particularly in Polewali Mandar, Majene and Mamuju. Many have been converted to fish ponds. Community mangrove restoration is a realistic small-scale option; see blue carbon.

Main commodities and drivers of forest loss

• Cocoa: a major smallholder crop in Polewali Mandar, Mamuju and other districts. West Sulawesi is among Indonesia’s important cocoa provinces. See cacao.
• Oil palm: estates and smallholders in Pasangkayu and Central Mamuju in the north.
• Coffee: arabica and robusta from the Mamasa highlands.
• Coconut and clove: widespread; not EUDR commodities.

Drivers of forest loss include oil palm expansion in the northern lowlands, smallholder farm expansion into upland forest, logging and road building. The 2021 Mamuju–Majene earthquake also disrupted land use in affected areas.

Which carbon project types fit

Cocoa agroforestry can address two problems at once: old, low-yield gardens and low tree cover. Adding shade and timber trees while replanting cocoa raises carbon stocks and long-term productivity. See cocoa agroforestry carbon and the agroforestry hub.

EUDR exposure

• Cocoa: smallholder cocoa passes through collectors to traders in Makassar or local ports. Plot geolocation is the main gap. See EUDR and cocoa.
• Palm oil: expansion in the north is more recent than in Sumatra, so the 31 December 2020 cut-off is a real test for some plots. See EUDR and palm oil.
• Coffee: Mamasa coffee is mostly smallholder, with some gardens in forest estate.

Plots in forest estate need a social forestry licence or other legal basis to pass the EUDR legality test.

Customary land and social forestry

Mandar communities on the coast and Mamasa (Toraja-related) communities in the highlands have customary land traditions. Highland villages manage forests and gardens under customary rules. Social forestry licences have been granted in several districts.

Permenhut 6/2026 confirms social forestry groups and customary communities as legitimate carbon participants. For highland coffee and forest protection, social forestry licences give the legal basis that both carbon and EUDR need. See social forestry carbon.

Measurement and data

Cocoa and coffee plots are small and scattered on steep land, so field data matters. A single campaign that maps plot boundaries, counts and measures trees and records land status can serve both carbon baselines and EUDR due diligence. Planning the campaign once avoids paying twice for field work.

Oil palm in the north and the cut-off date

Oil palm in Pasangkayu and Central Mamuju has expanded over recent decades, with estates and growing numbers of smallholders. For EUDR purposes, the key question is when each plot was planted and what was there before. Plots planted on former forest after 31 December 2020 cannot supply the EU, even if they are legal under Indonesian law. Mills that buy from smallholders need plot-level geolocation and land cover history for each supplier. Plots in forest estate without a release or licence also fail the legality test. Mills that start mapping their supply base now will be better placed when EU buyers ask for full due diligence. See palm oil smallholders and our EUDR compliance service.

Practical next steps

Start with plot mapping and land status checks. Compare with South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi, and see the forest carbon hub.