The Indonesian government is moving to reclassify large portions of Way Kambas National Park in Sumatra, a shift framed as a transition from a “cost center” to a “profit center”.
This initiative, led by Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni, aims to generate “innovative and sustainable funding” through private sector involvement to elevate the country’s national parks to “world-class” status, according to an article by Mongabay.
Way Kambas will serve as one of three pilot sites for this new self-financing scheme.
The proposed rezoning would more than halve the park’s strictly protected core area from 59,935 to 27,661 hectares (148,103 to 68,352 acres).
Simultaneously, the “utilization zone”—the area where development and carbon trading are permitted—would expand nearly tenfold from 3,934 to 32,091 hectares (9,721 to 79,299 acres).
An investigation by Tempo found that these carbon and tourism projects are being led by former U.S. diplomat Karen Brooks, who reportedly lobbied President Prabowo Subianto to legalize carbon trading and rezone the park.
Environmental experts have criticized the move, warning that it prioritises business over conservation.
Wishnu Sukmantoro, a member of the Asian Elephant Specialist Group at the IUCN, noted that reducing core zones for business interests is “not appropriate”.
Furthermore, critics warn that carbon-focused reforestation could damage wildlife habitat, as Sumatran elephants rely on the open grasslands that the projects may replace with dense, high-density tree planting.
The luxury tourism component has also faced intense scrutiny, with projected nightly rates reaching up to $14,000.
Irfan Tri Musri, director of Walhi Lampung, expressed concern that “conservation will only be able to be accessed by the wealthy,” effectively excluding local residents and the general public from a national asset.
Sustainability expert Aida Greenbury added that significant portions of carbon project funding are often consumed by intermediaries, rather than benefiting the forests or local communities.
Minister Raja Juli Antoni maintains that national parks have become an expense that requires innovative financing to survive.
While the government has pledged approximately $120 million for elephant and rhino protection at Way Kambas, conservationists remain wary that the shift toward profit-driven management could lead to habitat fragmentation and the loss of biodiversity in one of Sumatra’s most critical habitats.
This development represents a radical new model for national park management that prioritizes ultra-luxury tourism and carbon markets over traditional public access.
For developers and high-end hospitality operators, Indonesia’s “profit center” approach could signal new investment opportunities in previously protected lands, though it also presents substantial reputational and environmental risks that could redefine the standards for “world-class” conservation travel.