Imagine Indonesia without forests in Kalimantan and Papua. There are no lush trees that cool the air. No chirping birds, the sound of sturdy tree branches, or Sumatran tigers crossing the leafy floor. Without forests, we lose the lungs of the earth, guardians of clean water, protectors of the soil, and homes for millions of living things.
The current condition of Indonesia’s forests is highly concerning. Although the country is known for having one of the largest tropical forest areas in the world, the rate of forest loss remains high and its impact is far-reaching. Data from the organization Auriga Nusantara shows a higher deforestation rate, with 261,575 hectares lost in 2024, up from 257,384 hectares the previous year.
Recognizing forests as a vital ecosystem in responding to climate change, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) has established collaborations with various parties, such as the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI), Mitra Solidaritas (MOSAIC), and local governments, to develop forests through a waqf mechanism that integrates religious values with environmental conservation.
The Director General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Abu Rokhmad, stated Wakaf Hutan is a concrete step in addressing climate change and ensuring environmental sustainability. Islam teaches the importance of protecting nature as a trust from Allah, and the concept of waqf serves as a highly relevant instrument in this regard.
In Islam itself, waqf does not have to be in the form of buildings or land for mosques/pantheons. In the context of today’s modern era, waqf can be directed towards environmental conservation, including forest waqf. This falls under the category of productive waqf or social waqf, whose benefits continue to flow for society and nature.
Waqf forest have become one of eight priority programs of the Ministry of Religious Affairs in religious empowerment on ecotheology, which means that all Ministry of Religious Affairs programs must be in contact with nature. The Ministry of Religious Affairs successfully collaborated with MOSAIC (Muslims for Shared Action on Climate Impact), which has conducted Forest Waqf Roadshows and workshops in four Waqf cities, namely Wajo Regency, Gunung Kidul Regency, Tasikmalaya City, and Padang City, during Ramadan 1446 H.
One of the results of the workshop, which involved various elements of the community, including nadzir and local government, was the high enthusiasm and strong commitment of the stakeholders in managing and developing waqf forests.
As quoted from MOSAIC’s website, Aldi Permana, MOSAIC’s Forest Waqf Project Lead, explained that the program managed to secure management commitments for a total of 42 hectares of new waqf forest land, in addition to the existing waqf land. From this result, we can see that the community and nadzir show great interest in forest waqf, which is expected to be a real solution in addressing environmental challenges.
The roadshow, which has been conducted in four cities, aims to invite the public to play an active role in sustainable forest conservation through the mechanism of waqf. The initiative utilizes waqf as a form of Islamic philanthropy to provide innovative financing for forest conservation.
Enter Nusantara is part of a collaborative forum with MOSAIC and Umat Untuk Semesta that involves Muslim leaders, organizations, and movements to initiate solutions to the challenges of climate change. As well as being part of the forest waqf program to promote and invite other communities to be directly involved in this program.
As people who believe that the earth is a trust from Allah SWT, we have a responsibility to protect, not destroy, and to care for, not exploit. Waqf is a jariyah charity whose rewards will flow continuously and can be a way for us to act. Waqf is not only for mosques and tombs. But waqf can be for forests. To plant hope. To protect air, water, and life.
Let us be part of the solution. Let us make forest waqf as a form of care for the earth, for future generations, and for the creator.
