Indonesia Strengthens Forest Monitoring to Comply with EU Deforestation Law, Rubber Industry Faces Transformation

Indonesia is stepping up efforts to strengthen its forest monitoring system in response to the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), which will come into full effect on December 30, 2025.

The regulation prohibits deforestation-related goods from entering the EU market, covering a variety of commodities including rubber, posing a challenge to Indonesia's main export products.

To meet the strict requirements of the EUDR, Indonesia has launched an advanced monitoring platform called GroundTruthed.id (GTID).

The system combines field evidence with geolocation data to detect and record environmental violations in real time.

GTID emphasizes collaboration and actively involves indigenous communities, civil society organizations and law enforcement agencies. Through a rigorous verification process, it transforms grassroots reports into legally binding cases and ensures that data accurately reflects local realities.

The rubber industry is vital to Indonesia's economy, but the EUDR requires exporters to provide proof that they have not caused deforestation since 2020, which poses a huge challenge to smallholders and independent producers.

They will need to follow a complex due diligence process and provide verifiable data to demonstrate compliance.

Currently, there are approximately 3.2 million hectares of rubber plantations in Indonesia, but only 10,000 hectares have obtained the Plantation Registration Certificate (STDB), making it difficult for most smallholders to meet the EUDR's geolocation requirements.

The Indonesian government has taken steps to push local governments to speed up data collection, mapping, verification and issuance of STDBs to ensure that rubber and its derivative products can continue to be exported to the EU.

In addition, Indonesia and the EU are working together to develop a practical guide to help smallholders comply with the EUDR.

However, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Arief Havas Oegroseno expressed concerns about the administrative burden that the EU regulation may impose on small-scale producers and pointed out some ambiguities in the enforcement framework.

Despite the challenges, the Indonesian government is committed to working with the EU to ensure that the rubber industry is well prepared for the upcoming enforcement deadline.

The successful implementation of GTID and other complementary monitoring tools will help prove the sustainability and deforestation-free nature of Indonesia's rubber exports and ensure its competitiveness in the global market.