FORESTRY SECTOR RECORDS GOOD PERFORMANCE

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 25 (Antara) - The House of Representatives (DPR) has lauded the government's performance in the forestry sector for successfully reducing forest fires, enforcing the law, contributing to the economy, and mitigating the impacts of climate change.          "We praise the achievements of the government, in this case, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK)," Eddy Prabowo, chairman of Commission IV of the DPR, remarked during a hearing on Wednesday.           The DPR assessed that the LHK Ministry had applied appropriate management practices in the forestry sector, including the management of customary forests for indigenous communities.           LHK Minister Siti Nurbaya had requested that the management of customary forests be conducted professionally and continuously based on local wisdom, taking into account their function.          In a written statement in Jakarta on Thursday, Nurabaya remarked that customary forests must be recognized and managed professionally and continuously based on local wisdom to improve the people's welfare.

LOCAL FARMERS CAN NOW CULTIVATE FORESTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 21 (Antara) - Indonesia's forests, which served as wealth engines for conglomerates and forest tycoons in the past, are being cultivated to improve farmers' prosperity and regain the glory of its timber industry.          Forests are now cultivated differently from the forest management concept in the past when concessions were given to large companies or corporations.          The concept of forest is now based on a social forestry scheme where the people, the locals and the farmers become the main subject, and they are given the concessions to cultivate forests so that they can improve their welfare and support timber industries, which are oriented to exports.          According to President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), the management of forests in the social forestry scheme is different from the previous management system.          "In the past, concessions were given to large companies, foreign firms and corporations but now they are given to the people, the farmers, and the associations of farmers," the president said in his address when handing over permits of social forestry concessions to farmers in Pulau Pisang District, Central Kalimantan, on Tuesday (Dec. 20).

RI SHOULD ADOPT LANDSCAPE APPROACH FOR HANDLING FOREST FIRES

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 7 (Antara) - Indonesia, that has the largest tropical forest in the world, needs to adopt an appropriate approach to check the forest fires that happen almost every year.          A forum during the on-going 21st Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, France, also touched upon the issue of annual Indonesian forest fires.          The issue was raised during the Global Landscape Forum, organized by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)  at the Palais de Congres, Paris, France, on Saturday.          Director for Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) Indonesia Fitrian Ardiansyah told the forum that the Indonesian government needed to adopt a landscaping approach to overcome the forest fires occurring for the past few years.          He said various countries have successfully used the landscaping approach. It was also mentioned in the 'The Little Sustainable Landscape Book,' launched by the CIFOR  and various environment organizations at the forum.

NEW GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE FOREST PLANTATION PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 13 (Antara) - The new government under President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) will carry forward its predecessor's tree planting program in a bid to maintain sustainable forest development and preserve the environment.          The forests, which play a key role in preserving ground water and absorbing carbon dioxide, should be protected, and the deforested areas must be rehabilitated.          The government, therefore, must continue its program to plant billions of trees. The program had been launched by the forestry ministry in the past.          As part of its efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020, the previous government had, since 2007, launched a tree planting drive to rehabilitate its damaged forests, green its denuded lands, and provide homes to billions of tons of carbon sinks.          Under the previous government, Indonesia has designated 37.5 million hectares of its 130 million hectares of forests as homes for carbon sinks as part of its emission reduction project through the global Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) scheme.

INDONESIA'S FOREST GOVERNANCE NEEDS REFORM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Dec 7 (ANTARA) - The management of Indonesia's remaining 120 million hectares of forests needs reform, owing to the fact that there are various problems relating to the conservation and exploitation of forests. Indonesia needs to introduce a new forest governance program in order to reduce deforestation, protect the border areas of forests, settle forest conflicts, and increase the local people's participation in forest conservation efforts. "For this purpose, the cooperation of all relevant parties is key to the successful reform of forest governance," said Wicaksono Sarosa, the executive director of Kemitraan, a Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia, on Thursday.

GOVT URGED TO CONTINUE REFORESTATION PROGRAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 8 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) has urged the Indonesian government to continue its reforestation program through a one-billion-tree planting program to reduce damage to the environment, which has reached over 60 percent.          "The forestation program is the right step to restore the damaged environment, but it seemed that these activities are less intense of late," Walhi executive director Abetnego Tarigan said recently.          The damage to the environment, which reached over 60 percent, was acknowledged by the Minister for Environment, Balthasar Kambuaya, who warned in Jakarta on Saturday that the damage to the environment had continued to increase.          "Environmental damage in Indonesia reached 61 percent this year, which is an increase from last year's 59 percent," the minister said.         He noted that there are many factors contributing to environmental damage, including forest fires and drought due to the dry season. The minister said the government has implemented steps to reduce this damage by building dams.          When he met with scouts in South Sulawesi on Wednesday, the minister also revealed the same thing, expressing his concern over the damage to the environment.          He told members of the scout movement that some 40 to 50 percent of Indonesia's environment has been damaged on a national scale.          Kambuaya was speaking at an event organized jointly by the office of the Ministry of Environment and the National Scout Movement to promote a campaign aimed at spreading awareness about preserving the environment.          The minister noted that the damage has been largely caused by the activities of human beings. "It is caused by the actions of human beings, and therefore, the scout movement can help popularize ways in which we can safeguard the environment while going forward."     Kambuaya, who is also a rector at the Cenderawasih University of Papua, said his office would extend full cooperation to the scout movement and provide them with information about how the public can work towards preserving the environment so that the younger generation is able to enjoy the fruits of their efforts during the next 20 to 30 years.          However, he noted that local residents also need to act to maintain the environment.          Therefore, his ministry has coordinated with local governments to popularize early steps that should be taken to safeguard the environment in the short term and the creation of long term programs, such as the construction of reservoirs and water tanks. These could help solve shortages of water caused by droughts.          "Long-term plans should be made every year to face droughts so that the dry season and shortage of water, as is happening now, could be overcome," the minister said.          In the meantime, forests which constitute a main factor in preserving ground water and absorbing carbon dioxide should also be protected and areas whose forests are damaged must be rehabilitated.          For this, Walhi called on the government to continue its program to plant one billion trees per year. The program has been launched by the forestry ministry in the past few years.          Walhi director Abetnego Tarigan said that his forum has observed the tendency of the government to only plant the trees, while neglecting them and not maintaining and preserving them.          Abetnego who is also an activist of the "Sawit Watch" (an oil palm plantation watchdog) said that those who followed the government¿s appeal and reforestation program also tended to ignore the tree plantations.          "Those involved in the one-billion tree planting program lacked care for what they have planted", he said.  They also lack diversification and tended to plant only one tree species.          He said that monoculture system had a negative impact because it reduced the fertility of soil, as rotation of nutrients did not take place, unlike on land which received different species of plants.          Besides, the diversification of biodiversity did not take place because only a small number of animal and plant species could live in an area planted with a monoculture system. Indirectly, the development of the ecosystem is thereby disturbed.          "The important thing is that trees which are planted should be able to be used for preserving nature, while the local residents earn a living from their economic benefits," Abet said.          At the end of last year, the government resumed its reforestation program, having set itself the target of planting at least 1.7 billion trees capable of absorbing about 47.6 billion tons of carbon gases.       "I believe 90 percent of the 1.7 billion trees will grow. We have set ourselves the target of planting at least 1.7 billion trees this year. Hopefully, the number of trees that can grow will be far higher than last year," Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said at that time.          As part of its efforts to cut gas emissions 26 percent by 2020, the Indonesian government, since 2007, has been coordinating a tree planting drive to rehabilitate its damaged forests, green its denuded lands and provide homes to billions of tons of carbon sinks.          Further, Indonesia  has designated 37.5 million hectares  of  its 130 million hectares of forests as homes for carbon sinks as part of its  emission reduction project through the global Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) program.          A total of 40 million hectares are former production forests, half of which have been damaged or are in critical condition. The damaged forests are expected to be rehabilitated with consistent and continued tree planting programs.          Last week, the forestry minister expressed optimism that his ministry would be able to use 90 percent of its designated budget   for this year's program, including reforestation. "I am convinced the absorption of the budget would reach 90 percent by the end of the year," Minister Zulkifli Hasan said while swearing in 15 echelon II officials on Wednesday.         Therefore, the minister recalled that the reforestation program should be intensified, not only in Java but also outside Java, such as in Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.         "In areas which are relatively wet, such as in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua, there is no reason for the officials to delay the reforestation program," asserted Zulkifli.      (T.A014/INE/KR-BSR/B003) 08-09-2012 21:19

RI'S REFORESTATION PROGRAM TO ABSORB 47.6 BLN TONS OF CARBON GASES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 14 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is resuming its reforestation program this year, having set itself the target of planting at least 1.7 billion trees capable of absorbing about 47.6 billion tons of carbon gases.      "I believe 90 percent of the 1.7 billion trees will grow. We have set ourselves the target of planting at least 1.7 billion trees this year. Hopefully, the number of trees that can grow will be far higher than last year," Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said.          As part of its efforts to cut its gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020, the Indonesian government since 2007 has been launching a tree planting drive to rehabilitate its damaged forests, green its denuded lands and provide homes to billions of tons of carbon sinks.          Indonesia  has designated 37.5 million hectares  of  its 130 million hectares of forests as homes for carbon sinks as part of its  emission reduction project through the global Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) scheme.          A total of 40 million hectares are former production forests, half of which have been damaged or are in critical condition. The damaged forests are expected to be rehabilitated with consistent and continued tree planting programs.          Like  in 2010, this year's planting target is also set at 1.7 billion trees. "The target is  the same as last year in which 90 percent of the number would grow," Minister Zulkifli Hasan said on Wednesday.          Right now the country had 1.7 billion seeds consisting of 600 million from the ministry, 500 million from state forestry companies and 600 million from timber estate companies.          For this program, the forestry ministry set aside a fund of Rp3 trillion. The planting of trees in the 1,7 billion tree planting program was started on February 1, 2011 and would be completed on January 31, 2012.          However, the number of trees that have been planted this year is still unknown as the project is still going on. By January 31, 2011 the number of trees planted under the 2010 reforestation program had exceeded the annual target of 1 billion trees, he said.          According to the minister each of the trees planted is able to absorb 28 tons of carbon gases per annum. Thus, if the 1.7 billion trees are successfully planted and grown they will be able to serve as home to 47.6 billion tons of carbon sinks.         "One tree is able to absorb 28 tons of CO2 gas and hold 100 liters of water a year," the minister said.          The planting of trees is also crucial to human beings who breathe 10 tons of oxygen for free per annum and use about 10 liters of water a day, Minister Zulkifli said.          He said that each person should at least plant trees at a rate equal to the span of his or her life. "So, if a person has a span of life of 60 years, he or she had better plant at least 60 trees," he said.          The minister said he tirelessly reminded the people of the importance of tree planting movement in the frame work of preventing the emergence of critical environment and of creating the image of Indonesia Green.          Therefore, he also asked the people to pay attention to the critical environment in their surroundings which were marked by the absence of birds and butterflies or fireflies which were used to be found around the house.          He said that these animals had high sensitivities to the various conditions of living environment such as high pollution, water contamination and scarcity of trees. Butterflies and fireflies could only live in an environment which had a perfect ecosystem.          Regarding forest fires in the current drought which begins to trigger forest fires minister Zulkifli called on the people to change their habit of burning in opening up farmland  that could boost land and forest fire.          "Some farmers burn their agricultural land when they begin to open up farms and burn them again when they finish tilling them. This habit must be terminated," the minister said during a function on the planting program of one billion trees.          Director General for Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA) Darori said that the number of hot spots in Indonesia at present reached 8,082, but this was categorically small if compared with those in Myanmar and other ASEAN countries.          He said that hot spots in Myanmar were recorded at 24,767, Cambodia 12,557, Laos 11,076 and Thailand 10,031 hot spots.  Hot spots in Indonesia are still found in six provinces which are prone to fires. The number of hot spot is the highest in Riau with 2.59 locations, West Kalimantan 809, North Sumatra 600, Central Kalimantan 543, Jambi 455 and South Kalimantan 259.          In order to put up forest fires, the government has sent a forest fire operation team to South Sumatra, Riau and Central Kalimantan provinces. "The forest fire operation team will be working for three months," People's Welfare Coordinating Minister Agung Laksono said when he saw of the departure of the team at Halim Perdanakusuma airport recently.          The government and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency are working out an integrated action plan (RAT) on the handling of haze as a result of forest and land fires. The ministries of forestry, environment, agriculture and other relevant institutions have worked out programs to reduce the risks of land and forest fires, he said.          "Land and forest fires are main threat to Indonesia, particularly during the dry season. Forest and land fires caused different kinds of losses," Agung said.          The Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) also continues to carry out researches and technology development in order to overcome land and forest fires.  It is designing a weather modification technology (TMC), a man-made rain aimed at helping overcome water crisis caused by climate and weather factors.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/15:55/A/O001)14-09-2011 15:57:

RI RESUMES TREE-PLANTING DRIVE TO ABSORB MORE CARBON

By Andi Abdussalam

      Jakarta, July 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will continue its tree planting drive in order to recover its damaged forests, re-green its denuded land areas and help reduce global warming by providing homes for billions of tons of carbon sink.

         President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono --who launched a nation-wide program to plant 79 million trees late last year-- is expected to announce another drive to plant 100 million threes across the country next November.

         "Indonesia will have an additional potential to absorb 2.4 million tons of carbon if the government is successful in its efforts to mobilize the people to plant 100 million trees by the end of 2008," Forestry Minister MS Kaban said on Wednesday.

         Kaban said that besides the additional carbon absorption potential from the 100 million trees, Indonesia also had other potentials to absorb billions tons of carbon.

         The 100 million trees, to be planted on 100,000 hectares-- is worth about US$12 million on the assumption that each hectare could absorb 24 tons of carbon at the price of US$5 per ton, the minister said.

         Indonesia which has 120.3 million hectares of forests is designating 37.5 million hectares of its forests to serve as a carbon sink in the global Reduction of Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD) project.

         The REDD scheme was discussed in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Indonesia's tourist resort island of Bali last December.

         "If for each hectare in the REDD project Indonesia is paid US$10 a year, we will earn  US$3.75 billion per year," Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar said at the time.

         According to Forestry Minister MS Kaban, the problem is that Indonesia is still facing difficulties in marketing its forest areas which are able to absorb carbon.

         "There are mandatory and voluntary markets. The market must be prepared as well as possible. We have to prepare mandatory market at home while the voluntary market must be prepared abroad," Kaban added.

         He said that voluntary markets abroad already existed. So, the thing that remained to be done was negotiations with other countries.  The potential Indonesia has to absorb carbon is great.

         "The carbon has potential with a plus value which would be obtained from planting trees. It would help reduce global warming and   return the genetic resources of forests. This excludes the value to be obtained from the wood," he said.

         Therefore, he called on all components of the people to nurture tree planting spirit that had begun to arise since the 79 Million Tree Plantation Movement launched by President Yudhoyono in November 2007.

         "If we look at the double value of planting trees, we will feel obliged to spread the spirit of planting trees. Regional governments are asked to be active in motivating their citizens, particularly in an effort to overcome natural disasters due to environmental damage," he said.

         Indonesian forests which cover 120.3 million hectares, along with those of other tropical rain forest countries --such as Brazil, Cameroon, Congo, Costa Rica, Gabon, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea-- function as the lungs of the world. Indonesia and these countries have joined ranks amid the rising global warming threat.

         Forest fires and massive illegal logging in Indonesia raise concern that while its forests function as carbon absorber, they also contribute to gas emissions released into the atmosphere.

         Actually, Indonesian forests keep potential economic values.

         Elfian Effendi, executive director of Greenomics Indonesia, a natural resources advocacy non-governmental organization, once said that the economic value of Indonesia's forests reached hundreds of billions of dollars.

         Indonesia still has 36.5 million hectares of conservation and 36.7 million hectares of production forests with, due to their carbon absorption capacity, have a combined economic value of between 216.4 and 234.4 billion dollars, he said.

         Apart from that, Indonesian forests also hold almost 9,000 megatons of carbon concentration worth about 134.5 billion US dollars, he said.

         Elfian said that advanced countries must pay 134.5 billion dollars if they wanted to prevent Indonesia's deforestation from releasing 7,000 megatons of carbon into the atmosphere.

         "If advanced states want Indonesia to be at zero deforestation position on its production forests, they have to pay some 278.6 billion dollars as compensation," Elfian said.

         Virtually, a mechanism for carbon trade between developing countries and developed nations was discussed in the UNFCCC in Bali last year.

         As host country, Indonesia drafted a scheme called the Reductions of Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries (REDD).

         Under the REDD scheme, developing countries would market tons of carbon stored in their forests to developed countries who have obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

         Minister Rachmat Witoelar said that developed states were estimated to have set adaptation fund program amounting to between US$20 and US$30 billion a year.

         However, Elfian Effendi said the REDD scheme with which Indonesia is expected to get US$3.75 billion incentive a year, belittled the economic value of Indonesian forests.

    
(T.A014/A/HAJM/A/S012) 25-07-2008 22:12:40