Forest landscape restoration in North Sulawesi Province

Forest landscape restoration in North Sulawesi Province

Area
6,000 ha. | 10,000 ha. potential
ARR
Agroforestry
Location
North Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
Project ID
Standards
SRN, VCS, CCB

Project overview

Once, North Sulawesi’s tropical rainforests teemed with life. Today, much of this land has been ravaged by unsustainable farming practices, leaving the soil infertile, forests fragmented, and wildlife habitats diminished. The region faces a future of declining resources, as smallholder farmers struggle with depleted land and fire-prone grasses, while deforestation continues unchecked.

This project aims to support the restoration of 6,000 hectares of this landscape, with the potential to expand to 10,000 hectares.
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By working with smallholder farmers and local communities, the project seeks to explore agroforestry and reforestation approaches that could help rebuild soil health, reconnect ecosystems, and strengthen climate resilience. A key focus will be on revitalizing water sources around the Masarang mountain area, supporting long-term environmental and community well-being.
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Through community-driven restoration, ecotourism, and sustainable agricultural practices, the project aspires to help break cycles of deforestation while improving food security and economic opportunities. By restoring forest cover and supporting nature-based solutions, we hope to create the conditions for both the land and its people to thrive.

Project goals

8
SDGs
>200
Locals employed
100%
% Native or naturalized species
>1,500
Potential participants
>3x
Sustainable annual livelihood jump for participants
~7M
Tons gross carbon sequestered (crediting period)
>4M
Net lifetime monetizable credits

Stories from the field

For countless generations, this land has been their home. With the right actions, it has the potential to sustain them for generations to come.

Famers are facing growing challenges.

On half-hectare fields, they raise families alongside a cow, a few hens, and whatever crops they can grow. Groundnuts are common, often cultivated as a monocrop in dry, low-yielding conditions.

With little to no access to irrigation, electricity, or reliable markets, farming alone doesn’t provide a stable livelihood - so many must supplement their income by working as labourers on other farms or through government schemes.

Their families make do with what they have.

They sell small quantities of milk, eggs, and sometimes honey - often at unfair prices set by middlemen. Women walk long distances to gather tamarind seeds from the forest, while children help with fieldwork.

Without reliable infrastructure, financial tools, or climate-resilient support, breaking out of subsistence farming is incredibly difficult. Yet, there is momentum for change.

But there is hope.

With the right support - a scientifically selected mix of native and naturalized saplings, agroforestry training, and access to organic inputs - farmers can make their land more productive without abandoning existing practices.

Introducing diverse cropping systems can extend harvest periods and spread risk, ensuring income throughout the year. Drip irrigation and organic soil enhancements can further improve yields, while participation in local cooperatives can enable fairer pricing and better market access.

Thriving farms could lead to stronger communities.

If these changes take root, incomes could rise significantly. Families will have the opportunity to stay on their land rather than seek work elsewhere. Communities will benefit from improved livelihoods along with longer-term self-regenerating ecosystems.

Famers are facing growing challenges.

On half-hectare fields, they raise families alongside a cow, a few hens, and whatever crops they can grow.

With little to no access to irrigation, electricity, or reliable markets, farming alone doesn’t provide a stable livelihood - so many must supplement their income by working as labourers on other farms or through government schemes.

Their families make do with what they have.

They sell small quantities of milk, eggs, and sometimes honey - often at unfair prices set by middlemen. Women walk long distances to gather tamarind seeds from the forest, while children help with fieldwork.

Without reliable infrastructure, financial tools, or climate-resilient support, breaking out of subsistence farming is incredibly difficult.

But there is hope and momentum for change.

With the right support - a scientifically selected mix of native and naturalized saplings, agroforestry training, and access to organic inputs - farmers can make their land more productive without abandoning existing practices. Introducing diverse cropping systems can extend harvest periods and help ensure income throughout the year.

Drip irrigation and soil restoration techniques can further improve yields, while participation in local cooperatives can enable fairer pricing and better market access.

This approach strengthens both environmental and financial resilience, laying the foundation for long-term regeneration.

Thriving farms could lead to stronger communities.

If these changes take root, incomes could rise significantly. Families will have the opportunity to stay on their land rather than seek work elsewhere. Communities will benefit from improved livelihoods along with longer-term self-regenerating ecosystems.

Stories from the field

Farming in North Sulawesi is a legacy, but it’s under threat. Generations of farmers are facing growing uncertainty. But revitalizing land, water, and livelihoods can help communities move from surviving to thriving.

Farming communities in North Sulawesi are facing a growing threat.

For generations, families have cultivated this land, but today, they’re contending with mounting challenges. Years of degradation have led to soil infertility, declining forest cover, and the spread of fire-prone grasses that stall natural regrowth and fragment wildlife habitats.

Despite deep knowledge of the land and a strong work ethic, many farmers now struggle with growing uncertainty - where once the land provided, it now places their livelihoods at risk.

In addition to degradation, limited crops and farming techniques make life difficult.

A reliance on a narrow range of crops (such as coconut or cloves), means that farmers are subject to market volatility and declining yields. Without irrigation, access to modern farming techniques, and a lack formal credit access, they endure a cycle of low income and food insecurity.

The lack of alternative livelihoods - beyond conventional single-crop farming - results in chronic underemployment and stagnant local economies.

Water revitalization and multi-cropping systems give potential for greater economic stability.

Restoring water sources and introducing sustainable farming techniques could help restore soil health and reconnect ecosystems.

The introduction of multi-cropping systems and perennial agroforestry species aims to expand farmers’ income portfolios - combining timber, fruit, spices, and supplemental livestock or fish farming.

By reducing reliance on a single commodity, farmers can attain greater economic stability and improved food security.

New skills and support open pathways to long-term resilience.

With access to training, credit, and value chains for crops like honey and palm sugar, farmers can improve techniques and incomes. These new opportunities help communities move beyond survival - towards regeneration, entrepreneurship, and lasting security.

Farming communities in North Sulawesi are facing a growing threat.

For generations, families have cultivated this land, but today, they’re contending with mounting challenges. Years of degradation have led to soil infertility, declining forest cover, and the spread of fire-prone grasses that stall natural regrowth and fragment wildlife habitats.

Despite deep knowledge of the land and a strong work ethic, many farmers now struggle with growing uncertainty - where once the land provided, it now places their livelihoods at risk.

In addition to degradation, limited crops and farming techniques make life difficult.

A reliance on a narrow range of crops (such as coconut or cloves), means that farmers are subject to market volatility and declining yields. Without irrigation, access to modern farming techniques, and a lack formal credit access, they endure a cycle of low income and food insecurity.

The lack of alternative livelihoods - beyond conventional single-crop farming - results in chronic underemployment and stagnant local economies.

Water revitalization and multi-cropping systems give potential for greater economic stability.

Restoring water sources and introducing sustainable farming techniques could help restore soil health and reconnect ecosystems.

The introduction of multi-cropping systems and perennial agroforestry species aims to expand farmers’ income portfolios - combining timber, fruit, spices, and supplemental livestock or fish farming.

By reducing reliance on a single commodity, farmers can attain greater economic stability and improved food security.

New skills and support open pathways to long-term resilience.

With access to training, credit, and value chains for crops like honey and palm sugar, farmers can improve techniques and incomes.

These new opportunities help communities move beyond survival - towards regeneration, entrepreneurship, and lasting security.

Gallery

From degradation to opportunity

In the heart of North Sulawesi, generations of farmers have depended on the land for their survival. But years of deforestation, unsustainable farming, and fire-prone grasslands have made it increasingly difficult to cultivate a stable future. As the soil weakens and forests shrink, livelihoods become more fragile. This project seeks to support communities in reversing these cycles - restoring landscapes while creating new opportunities for the people who call this region home.

Resilient livelihoods and food security

Resilient livelihoods and food security

By introducing agroforestry and ecotourism, communities can explore new income opportunities beyond traditional farming. These approaches could improve food security, provide financial stability, and ensure the land remains productive for generations to come.

Ecosystem resilience and fire risk reduction

Restoring degraded land and shifting to resilient land management practices could lower the risk of destructive wildfires, helping forests recover while protecting biodiversity and local communities.

Community well-being and economic upliftment

By investing in resilient practices and local participation, this project has the potential to strengthen rural economies, create fairer opportunities, and improve overall well-being for those who rely on the land.

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