Dataset of Restorative Economy Potential in Indonesia

A comprehensive mapping tool to understand the potential, initiatives, and challenges in implementing restorative economy policies across 84,000+ villages in Indonesia.

Background

The restorative economy emerged from a critical recognition of Earth’s environmental challenges, born out of the understanding that our planet’s carrying capacity cannot be sustained through continued extractive economic models. Addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss requires a revolutionary approach to economic development. A village-based restorative economy presents a promising alternative to traditional economic strategies.

The Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS) provides a nuanced definition of restorative economy, emphasizing three fundamental aspects. First, the primary orientation is to restore ecosystems, structures, and objects to their original condition. Second, it demands collective action, engaging diverse stakeholders, including local communities, in responsible resource management. Third, the approach seeks to transform human-nature relationships, aiming to eliminate poverty, reduce inequality, and create peaceful, secure settlements. This concept offers a particularly crucial solution for local communities, especially in rural areas that have been traditionally marginalized in modern economic development.

Not all economic products qualify as restorative. To be considered truly restorative, commodities must meet rigorous ecological and socioeconomic criteria. They must support sustainable principles, often manifesting through innovative approaches like agroforestry that combine multiple crop types. Moreover, these products should support local economies by leveraging indigenous food sovereignty and traditional wisdom. The range of restorative economic products is diverse, spanning agricultural crops like coffee, cloves, and nutmeg; spices such as pepper and vanilla; industrial crops like rubber; and even fisheries when managed with sustainable practices that maintain ecosystem health.

Purpose

The core purpose of the restorative economy transcends mere economic development. It seeks to awaken communities to the significant natural resource potential that surrounds them. By restoring damaged ecosystems, maintaining harmony with nature, and reviving traditional practices rooted in local wisdom, communities can forge pathways to economic self-sufficiency and sustainable prosperity. The vision is transformative: once-barren lands becoming organic plantations that nourish both the earth and society, and trees once indiscriminately cut now growing abundantly through sustainable agroforestry, maintaining critical carbon balance while providing meaningful livelihood.