Bandar Seri Begawan
Monday, 22 Rabiulawal 1447H / 15 September 2025
The workshop titled “Exploring Forest Carbon Market Opportunities in Brunei Darussalam: The Case of Belait Peat Swamp
Forest” was jointly organised by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism through the Forestry Department, in collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), from 15 to 16 September 2025. Yang Mulia Dayang Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, was present as the Guest of Honour during the opening ceremony of the workshop. The workshop was attended by 30 participants, comprising representatives from the Brunei Climate Change Office and the Ministry of Finance and Economy, as well as international experts from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and Germany.
This workshop is part of a collaborative effort under the project titled “Gap Analysis and Verification of the National Forest Resources Inventory”, between the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and ERIA. Its primary objective is to assess the readiness of the Belait Peat Swamp Forest as a pilot site for potential participation in the voluntary carbon market, in line with the country’s aspirations in forest conservation and climate change mitigation.
Throughout the workshop, participants discussed findings related to carbon stock verification, assessed the eligibility of the project based on international carbon standards, examined relevant policies and institutional frameworks supporting project implementation, and explored the financial feasibility aspects. A field visit to the Belait Peat Swamp Forest was also conducted on the second day of the workshop.
The workshop is expected to assist the Forestry Department in leveraging ERIA’s expertise to analyse and verify baseline data, and to review findings under Phase I: Belait Peat Swamp Forest, ensuring that data collection methods are aligned with international standards, particularly the 2006 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Guidelines. In addition, this effort aims to further strengthen the capacity of the peat swamp forest as a carbon sink, and evaluate the potential for carbon credit generation and trading through carbon market mechanisms.
The key findings and recommendations from the workshop are expected to be presented at the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) Meeting, as a contribution to Brunei Darussalam’s ongoing efforts in exploring nature-based climate solutions and promoting sustainable forest management.
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Prepared by:
Forestry Department
Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Brunei Darussalam