JAKARTA, April 9, 2026 — PATTIRO accompanied the Environment and Forestry Office (DLHK) of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province in the verification process for a funding proposal under the Norway FOLU Result-Based Contribution (RBC) scheme at the Ministry of Forestry. This assistance is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen local government access to green funding, supporting vital environmental programs and climate change mitigation actions specifically within NTB Province.

Addressing Critical Environmental Needs

The drive for this assistance stems from the increasing urgency for regional environmental funding. This need is amplified by a decline in Transfers to Regions (TKD), which has hindered the implementation of environmental programs in various areas, including NTB. A pressing issue in the region is the recurring flood disasters, which represent the “tip of the iceberg” of broader environmental challenges in NTB, particularly in the Bima Raya area. Data from the NTB Provincial Disaster Information System shows a steadily increasing trend in flood events year after year. Consequently, there is a vital need to strengthen forest rehabilitation and manage watersheds more sustainably.

The Proposal: Optimization of Rontu Watershed

Under the Norway FOLU RBC scheme, the NTB Provincial Government has submitted a proposal titled “Optimization of Rontu Watershed Management: Candlenut Agroforestry Development and Community Economic Improvement in Bima Regency”. The primary objectives of this proposal include:

• Increasing forest cover in the Rontu Watershed area through a smart agroforestry approach.
• Strengthening the management of social forestry.
• Protecting the habitat of the Flores Hawk-Eagle, an endemic species of Nusa Tenggara.
• Boosting the local economy for communities living near forest areas.

These objectives are closely aligned with the Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030 targets to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

PATTIRO’s Role in Strengthening Local Capacity

PATTIRO’s assistance began at the earliest stages of proposal development. The comprehensive support process involved:

• Conducting regional needs assessments.
• Organizing proposal brainstorming workshops in Mataram.
• Facilitating consultations with experts and providing drafting assistance.
• Coordinating with the Ministry of Forestry and the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH).
• Facilitating discussions with the University of Mataram to sharpen the proposal’s substance.

The Verification Process

During the national verification session, the DLHK NTB team—led by the Head of the Forest Planning and Utilization Division—presented a detailed brief covering project scope, spatial data, intervention targets, and institutional aspects. The session involved rigorous technical and substantive evaluations by the national verifier team, which included the Operation Management Office (OMO), the Project Management Unit (PMU), and other key stakeholders of the Indonesia’s FOLU Net Sink 2030.

Technical feedback was provided during the process to ensure that the success of the proposal’s outcomes can be accurately measured. Moving forward, PATTIRO hopes that this collaborative effort will not only empower local governments to access green financing but also broaden the impact of environmental programs tailored to regional needs. (Fabya)