ASEAN Validates Nature-Based Forest Guidelines in Jakarta
Regional forestry officials met in Jakarta to test a draft guideline on nature-based solutions for transboundary forests.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in National Parks
Forestry officials from ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity gathered in Jakarta on November 5-6, 2026, for the second consultation workshop on the draft ASEAN Guideline on Implementing Nature-based Solutions in Transboundary Forests. The workshop was convened under the ROOTED project.
Why it matters
Countries face increasingly complex environmental challenges, making regional cooperation essential for forest landscapes that cross national borders. The draft guideline is intended to give member states a shared framework for managing those landscapes.
The workshop lasted two days, with the second consultation round focused on validating the draft. Participants identified areas for further refinement, and the source does not say when a revised draft will be released.
The players
ASEAN Secretariat
The ASEAN Secretariat is the central coordinating body of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which works to advance regional political, economic and cultural cooperation.
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity is a regional body supporting conservation and sustainable use of biological resources across Southeast Asia.
The Asia Foundation
The Asia Foundation is an international nonprofit that works on governance, economic development and civil society programs across Asia.
International Centre for Environmental Management
The International Centre for Environmental Management is an organization that works on environmental and natural resource management projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
The details
Government representatives, practitioners, and technical experts tested proposed approaches against real-world implementation challenges. Discussion covered governance, ecological connectivity, transboundary cooperation, financing, technical design, monitoring, and knowledge sharing, along with a good practice guide on gender equality, disability, and social inclusion in forestry nature-based solutions.
Timeline
November 5-6, 2026: ASEAN consultation workshop held in Jakarta.
2027: Draft guides are expected to be endorsed as ASEAN forestry cooperation deliverables.
Seasonal Patterns
The validation effort builds on the ASEAN Guideline on Implementing Nature-based Solutions in Transboundary Forests, which is set to be endorsed as a forestry cooperation deliverable in 2027. The workshop marks a step in that process rather than a finished policy.
For travelers, the guideline mainly signals how transboundary forest areas in Southeast Asia may be managed and connected in the coming years. Visitors planning trips to shared forest landscapes should check current access rules with local park authorities, since no changes to visitor rules are described in the source.
The takeaway
Regional forest protection increasingly depends on coordinated rules across borders, and this draft shows how ASEAN members are working toward a shared approach. Readers tracking the outcome can watch for the 2027 endorsement.
What happens next
The draft guides are expected to be endorsed as ASEAN forestry cooperation deliverables in 2027.
Further reading
Explore more on National Parks for context on how protected forest landscapes are managed.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Timberbiz.
