Proposal to pay poor countries to save forests moving ahead

A decision on the initial phases of action could come soon
Arti Mulchand, Straits Times 4 Dec 07;

BALI - A DECISION on a proposal from developing countries to be paid to protect their forests could come soon.

Representatives of the more than 190 countries at the climate change talks were yesterday urged to reach an agreement on the initial phases of action before ministers arrive in Bali next week.

UN climate chief Yvo de Boer said pilot projects and payment systems should be taken up, and representatives should also decide on a method to measure avoided emissions.

Negotiations on these issues have been going on for a while.

The Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation plan was initiated by Indonesia and is backed by developing countries with the largest remaining tropical forests, including Brazil and Malaysia.

Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, who is presiding over the talks, said: 'It is vital not just that we take action now, but also that this issue forms a central element of the future climate regime.'

Reaching agreement on issues like this before top ministers arrive would also 'free up negotiating space needed for the post-2012 process', said Mr de Boer, who is the United Nations Framework Convention executive secretary.

The meetings in Bali are aimed at jump-starting talks to find a successor to the emissions-curbing Kyoto Protocol, which ends in 2012.

Deforestation accounts for almost a fifth of all global carbon dioxide (C02) emissions and is the leading cause of biodiversity loss. Forests are also carbon sinks as they soak up CO2 and temporarily store the carbon. Hence, getting deforestation under control is central to combating climate change.

That is particularly important for Indonesia, where deforestation accounts for about two-thirds of its greenhouse gas emissions, making it the world's third largest CO2 polluter.

Indonesia is, in fact, the world's fastest forest destroyer. Between 2000 and 2005, an area of forest equivalent to 300 soccer pitches was destroyed every hour.

Jakarta's clearing of forests has other environmental implications: The slash-and-burn technique of land-clearing causes the annual haze that has the region - and its economies - in a chokehold.

The current problem is that the forests have no 'value', Indonesia's delegation head, economist and former minister Emil Salim, said at a media briefing here yesterday. It is the reason why forests get cleared for agriculture and ravaged by loggers, he said.

Still, sceptics question the degree of success that a country such as Indonesia, where illegal logging and land-clearing fires are rampant, can achieve.

It is also not clear just how the burden of paying to protect forests should be shared by developed countries. Monitoring mechanisms will also need to be worked out.

But Mr Witoelar believes that the 'carrot-and-stick' approach of paying for forests will work to help solve Indonesia's problem of illegal logging, even as the country tries to put in place more 'pertinent and actual' laws and create incentives for alternative livelihoods.

'It is a matter of survival,' he said.

Climate talks Quickly
Straits Times 4 Dec 07;

TREES PLANTED TO SOAK UP CO2

BALI: Indonesia has planted millions of trees to soak up an estimated 50,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases to be emitted during UN-led climate talks in Bali, Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar said yesterday.

Pines, acacia and meranti trees, a type of tropical hardwood, have been planted on about 4,500ha on the islands of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Java, Mr Witoelar said.

Trees absorb carbon as they grow, and those planted would eventually soak up about 900,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, far more than the emissions caused by conference delegates while staying in Bali and flying to and from the island, he said.

More than 10,000 politicians, officials, activists and journalists are attending the climate talks on the tropical resort island.

'The government of Indonesia is dedicating the carbon stock of the trees to offset the emissions produced by the UN meeting,' Mr Witoelar told a news conference.

'Apart from offsetting emissions, we would like to make this a carbon positive event,' he said.

REUTERS

A TUNE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

BALI: A song aimed at motivating people to work together to tackle climate change was launched at the Bali climate change conference yesterday.

The song Dunia Berbagilah (World, Let's Share Together), written by Indonesian musician Nugie, was jointly launched by Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, the newly elected conference president, and Oxfam's Ari Margiono.

It was performed by the United Voices of Indonesia, a group of 50 singers and musicians from the country, according to anti-poverty group Oxfam's website.

XINHUA

SOW SEEDS FOR BETTER OR WORSE

JAKARTA: Couples wanting to get married or divorced now have to spare a bit of love for the earth under a compulsory tree-planting campaign in one Indonesian district, a report said yesterday.

People planning to marry in Sragen district, on the main Indonesian island of Java, must contribute to the planting of five tree seedlings, district head Untung Wiyono was reported as saying by the state-run Antara news agency.

They are required to hand over their own seedlings, or 25,000 rupiah (S$3.90) to buy some, to whoever officiates at their marriage.

Couples who are looking to divorce must donate 25 tree seedlings, or hand over 40,000 rupiah.

The seeds, of hardwood trees such as teak or mahogany, are handed to the government to be planted, Mr Wiyono reportedly said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE