About us
About Hutan Synergy
The increasing threats of global climate impacts — including rising greenhouse gas (GHG) levels, higher air, and sea surface temperatures, and frequent extreme disasters such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires — accelerate the urgent need to transition toward more sustainable and resilient practices for the business sector, pushing corporations to adopt more sustainable business practices. This shift has fueled the greater demand for credible, science and climate solution-oriented approaches, particularly the high-integrity carbon projects rooted in nature-based solutions.
Hutan Kencana Group and Syngenera founded Hutan Synergy in response to the increasing demand for high-quality carbon projects and efforts to achieve the net zero target. Established in 2023, Hutan Synergy is a joint initiative that offers expertise in ecosystem restoration, biodiversity protection, and community empowerment. We are established to help corporations meet their sustainability and net zero targets through nature-based solutions that are not only scientifically proven but also socially inclusive and sustainable.
Climate
Forest covers about 47% of the total land area in Southeast Asia. Specifically, peat and mangrove forests are high-value natural assets critical to global climate stability in this region. Peatlands store immense carbon stocks, while mangrove ecosystems rank among the most efficient natural carbon sinks. These landscapes not only mitigate emissions but also protect coastlines and communities from rising sea levels and extreme weather—making them essential for climate adaptation and resilience.
Since 1990, we’ve lost 420 million hectares of forests, an area larger than the entire continent of Europe. This means millions of trees, once absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, are no longer available to help regulate CO₂ levels. Deforestation is one of the most direct threats to our ability to combat climate change.
At Hutan Synergy, we invest in the restoration and protection of these ecosystems through high-integrity, forestry-based carbon projects. We set out to breathe life back into burned and damaged landscapes—transforming them into thriving ecosystems.
Community
We recognize that local communities are key stakeholders in forest conservation and management. Our community-based approach ensures that local people are involved in decision-making and benefit from the conservation and restoration of forests. Through meaningful engagement and collaboration, we strive to create opportunities for local communities to benefit from the conservation of forests, thereby enhancing their well-being and livelihoods.
At Hutan Synergy, we believe that nature thrives when communities do too. Our approach to ecosystem restoration begins and ends with people—local stewards of the land whose knowledge, resilience, and dreams are central to everything we do.
We don’t just plant trees. We build trust, co-create solutions, and invest in livelihoods that restore dignity alongside degraded landscapes.
Biodiversity
Globally, we are losing species faster than at any other time in human history. In Indonesia—one of the most biodiverse nations on Earth—habitat loss, deforestation, and climate change are accelerating this decline. When biodiversity disappears, forests face threats, soils degrade, and our ability to adapt to climate shocks is severely compromised.
In just the past two decades, the world has lost over 76 million hectares of primary forest, leading to alarming damage to nature and a looming biodiversity collapse.
Southeast Asia’s forests are home to an extraordinary array of plant and animal life, many of which are now on the brink of extinction. Without urgent action, we risk losing not only species—but the ecosystems that sustain human and planetary health.
At Hutan Synergy, our projects are designed to confront this crisis head-on. We focus on conserving and restoring critical habitats, monitoring threatened wildlife, and engaging communities as stewards of their environment. Together, these efforts help safeguard the rich biodiversity of the region—and ensure that nature continues to thrive for generations to come.
Our Founders
Dr. Handoko Limaho - CEO, Director
Dr. Handoko is an experienced executive with more than 15 years of expertise in business management and leadership experiences. Previously, Dr. Handoko Limaho was COO at Agro Investama and the Director at PT Wangijaya Sejahtera, managing marketing strategies for FMCG clients. In his past leadership roles, Handoko has consistently worked to promote sustainable practices within palm oil industry that lead to a daring decision to transition fully into an ecosystem restoration developer in 2022 as he established PT Pagatan Usaha Makmur with its first project called PLUM project. This project covers 23,500 ha peatland and mangrove conservation and restoration project in Central Kalimantan. Handoko envisioned his company as a leader for ecosystem restoration. He brings expertise in corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, financial negotiations, and stakeholder collaboration for sustainability.
Brad Denig - Head of Sales & Marketing
Brad brings more than 25 years of expertise as a recognized thought leader in the field of sustainable business. In his previous roles, Brad has led carbon strategy teams at Ecova/Engie Insight, ERM Southeast Asia, AWR Lloyd, and Expert Associate Partner at Bain & Company focused on climate change, voluntary carbon markets, and nature-based solutions. Brad dedicated his expertise in working for Nature-based projects that are operated with transparency and integrity, addressing three of the most critical issues: climate change, natural resource management/biodiversity loss, and inequality.
Angela Joehl Cadena - Head of Programmes
Angela is a sustainability professional and expert in environmental project development and management with nearly 20 years of experience in the private sector and international organizations. Angela has been based in Asia since 2013, where she has developed and implemented projects on environment, smallholder resilience and climate change with organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Hutan Synergy Team
Mariska Estelita - Communications Manager
Mariska is an experienced communications professional with 8 years experiences in strategic communications, partnership, trainings, campaign, and outreach in various International NGOs and projects in Indonesia. Prior to joining Hutan Synergy, Mariska has worked for several projects funded by Global Affairs Canada, USAID, GIZ, and Ford Foundation.
Oliver Buckley - Business Analyst
Oliver Buckley is a sustainability and carbon analytics professional with 4 years experiences in consultancy, startups, and research. In his previous roles, Oliver worked as Senior Analyst at Accenture and Carbon Intelligence in United Kingdom. With additional experience in environmental startups and research, Oliver combines technical expertise with practical insight to support organizations on their path to net zero.
Aidan Prawira - Business Analyst
Aidan brings two years of experiences specialized in carbon markets and project development, with comprehensive expertise across multiple dimensions in carbon sector. In Hutan Synergy, Aidan enhances his technical understanding of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) and forestry carbon projects, providing thorough market research updates and analysis that drive strategic decision-making. Prior to joining Hutan Synergy, Aidan worked at South Pole Indonesia.
Itsaree Kasemrat - Administrative Associate
Itsaree has 4 years experiences working across government and private sector in Thailand. Her expertise is in administrative and data analytics, specialized in database management, data reporting, and providing comprehensive support to executives and team. Prior to joining Hutan Synergy, Itsaree worked at Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company Limited and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand as data analytist.