Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 15 Mar 10;
San Francisco-based NGO, the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) runs hard-hitting campaigns both in rich and developing nations to slow climate change and help protect the planet. RAN pushes rich nations among others to cut consumption on cheap forest products made in developing countries like Indonesia to reduce emissions. The Jakarta Post’s Adianto P. Simamora talked to RAN’s forest campaigner director Lafcadio Cortesi on the sidelines of his visit to Indonesia. Here are the excerpts:
Question: Could you tell about your visit to Indonesia?
Answer: I am meeting with a number of local NGOs and indigenous forest communities who work in alliance with the RAN to see what we can do to protect the remaining forest biodiversity, which is still amazing in Indonesia, and slow climate change.
We discuss ways to educate people on how to support the development of low carbon pathways. I also talked with a number of officials from government as well as business people from timber companies.
We hope to get them on board with our mission to try to slow global warming, promote alternative kinds of development to the the current method of extracting resources to produce cheap commodities like pulp and papers and oil palm, which were exported to the global market.
We think this type of development model has to be changed to ensure sustainability in economic development. Indonesia and all the world’s countries should create a low carbon economy and acknowledge community rights.
We are talking with investors and buyers of forest products, such as pulp and paper and palm oil, as well as coal energy products. In the United States, our focus is to stop the use of coal by promoting alternative energy resources.
In Indonesia, we talk to forest commodity producers asking them to put in safeguards for the carbon emissions, protecting the environment and ensure community rights because they are the best steward to protect the forests.
What about your campaign to reduce international demand for forest products?
Over the last six months, we have been working with the luxury goods and fashion sector, many of whom use paper bags produced in China and Indonesia. We talked with producers, such as Gucci and Levi’s, that buy paper from Indonesia.
We ask them to look at into the condition of deforestation before buying the products. They then make a commitment that they wouldn’t buy products before major reforms in Indonesia in (protecting the forest).
The companies have responded positively when we show them pictures and tell them about the impacts of purchasing cheap forest products. They are committed to not being involved in forest destruction.
In Indonesia, carbon is offset through cheap forest commodities. We don’t want rich nations like America and Europe to buy cheap carbon from Indonesia. The rich nations should change their lifestyle to combat the climate change.
We think forest destruction in Indonesia and Brazil is due to high demand from international markets for the cheap forest commodities like palm oil and paper.
We are trying to help Indonesia to support President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to meet its commitment to reduce emissions by 26 percent and by 41 percent by 2020, by addressing the demand side.
If we look at emissions in Indonesia, 80 percent are from deforestation and 50 percent are from the peatland. Report by Bappenas says though 50 percent of emissions were from peat land, only less than 1 percent of Indonesia’s GDP were generated through those activities.
So we think the real opportunity is to prevent expansion on peat land so Indonesia can meet its commitment on emission cuts.
I have talked with NGOs, local people and officials about the many private companies interested in expanding business in the forested land where they can also get the first cut and make profit from it.
Until now, there are lots of licenses issued on natural forest and peat. That old model of the development was needed to be changed.
Seeing the real facts in Indonesia, do you believe targets on emission cuts could be met?
I think it is feasible for Indonesia to reach such targets. However, companies should also bear responsibility. It needs courage from the government, political will and leadership from the President down to the governors until the village heads to meet the target.
It is challenging, and international supports, including NGOs and international companies like Gucci or Unilever, would help.
The companies have said that they would not work with companies in Indonesia if there were no changes in how business was conducted.
What has been the progress on reducing of emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) issue in Indonesia?
Q: Brazil has moved very quickly in setting up the avoided deforestation fund and there has been a good amount of the investments coming to the country from the governments of Norway, European countries and the United States.
In Indonesia, ministers are still very slow in figuring out transparency, accountability and equitable mechanisms for managing funds being invested to prevent deforestation. There is also struggling among ministers, on who has control and the right to make decisions.
RAN thinks the main responsiblility for climate change lies with rich nations, particularly the United States. The REDD is important, particularly for countries like Indonesia where deforestation is the leading driver of the emission, but it should not be the key.
