Indonesia announces two-year moratorium on deforestation

Pierre-henry Deshayes Yahoo News 26 May 10;

OSLO (AFP) – Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Wednesday he would introduce a two-year moratorium on deforestation, a large source of income for his country which also contributes heavily to global warming.

"We will ... conduct a moratorium for two years where we stop the conversion of peat land and of forest," Yudhoyono said at a joint press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg a day before an international deforestation conference starts in Oslo.

The decision was part of a deal reached with Norway, which has agreed to contribute up to one billion dollars to help preserve the Indonesian forests.

Together with Brazil, Indonesia boasts one of the world's largest rain forests, which function as global "lungs" that transform carbon dioxide into oxygen.

The country however also accounts for a large portion of the world's deforestation, especially on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Palm oil producers have especially caught the attention of environmental protection groups.

According to Greenpeace, forests covering the equivalent of 300 football fields are eradicated every hour in Indonesia, which along with Malaysia produces 80 percent of the world's palm oil, used for among other things cosmetics, food and fuel.

A Norwegian negotiator said the moratorium would take effect "immediately."

"There is of course a lot of illegal logging," said Hans Brattskar, who heads up the International Climate and Forest Initiative, launched by the Norwegian government.

"But the conversion of the forests and the peat land into plantations and for industrial use, especially for paper and palm oil production, represents a very large part of deforestation in Indonesia," he told AFP.

"It is therefore important to emphasise the Indonesian authorities' courage in depriving themselves of potential future revenue sources," he added.

In Oslo, President Yudhoyono acknowledged it was difficult to find the right balance between the socioeconomic interests of his people and the fight against climate change.

Norway will begin support for Indonesia's efforts by enabling the country to set up a control mechanism to help fight deforestation, and as of 2014 the Scandinavian country will offer aid contingent on Jakarta's progress.

"If there is no reduced deforestation, we will not pay. If there is reduced deforestation, we will pay," Prime Minister Stoltenberg told the press conference.

According to the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, deforestation is responsible for 17 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, which is more than all the world's modes of transport combined.

The Norwegian aid to Indonesia will come out of the three billion kroner (460 million dollars, 375 million euros) that the country puts aside every year to fight deforestation around the world.

Norway, which owes its prosperity to its vast oil and gas reserves, has already signed similar agreements with Brazil and Guyana.

President: Indonesia serious about managing its forests
Antara 27 May 10;

Oslo (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia is serious about conserving its forests to contribute to the balance of the environment and climate.

Speaking to the press aboard an Oslo-bound presidential plane on Wednesday, he said the seriousness was reflected by concrete action rather than a mere slogan or plan to maintain the area of the country`s forests.

"Therefore, I hope the central and regional governments will be fully responsible for encouraging the public to take part in ensuring the success of the endeavour. As such, we will be respected by the world community when they help us," he said.

He said developed nations had been committed to providing funds to tropical forest countries struggling to maintain their forests believed to contribute to nature conservation and balance.

"Indonesia has the chance to get contributions from the international community, particularly developed nations under a fund sharing scheme. I prefer to use the term "sharing" and "assistance" because Indonesia is really able to maintain its tropical forests, meaning that we maintain the lungs of the world. It is not merely Indonesia but also the rest of the world which will enjoy the fruit. Therefore, it will be fair if Indonesia uses its resources and budget not only for the environment or forests but also for the people`s welfare," he said.

Given the commitment, Indonesia must prove that its forest conservation efforts were not a mere slogan or plan, he said.

"Now that the developed nations want to contribute to forest conservation efforts by providing grants and not loans we must convince them that we not only have commitment and plan but also are determined to implement what Indonesia and donor countries have agreed upon," he said.

For its part, the head of state called on all domestic elements including the central government, regional governments, the community and the private sector to prove the commitment which would in the end improve the local people`s living standard.

"We build good political tradition that Indonesia is a consistent nation, state and government. Once again whether or not we are assisted, we are obliged to conserve the environment as good as possible," he said.

Yudhoyono arrived here at 07.00 a.m. on Wednesday for a four-day visit during which he will attend an international conference on climate change and forests.

During his stay, the Indonesian leader is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg at 03.00 p.m. to discuss the signing of a letter of intent in the field of forestry cooperation between the two countries.

The cooperation will be the first with Norway in the field of forestry based upon the principles of mutual benefit.

Yudhoyono will attend the conference at the invitation of Prime Minister Stoltenberg with whom he will co-chair the forum.

Representatives from 40 countries will attend the conference including the leaders of Denmark, Guyana and Gabon.

The conference will aim to facilitate voluntary partnerships between advanced and developing countries that have tropical forests with regard to the implementation of the mechanism for reduction of emissions from deforestation and degradation in developing countries (REDD+).

The meeting is expected to be able to produce an agreement regarding the REDD+ mechanism for immediate implementation.

Indonesia Agrees to 2-Year Freeze on Forest Concessions in $1b Deal
Abe Silangit & Fidelis E. Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 27 May 10;

Oslo. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced on Wednesday that Indonesia would stop issuing new concessions for peatlands and natural forests for two years, effectively imposing a temporary halt on deforestation.

The decision was part of a deal reached with Norway, which has agreed to grant $1 billion to help preserve the Indonesian forests.
“We will conduct a moratorium for two years where we stop the conversion of peatland forest,” Yudhoyono said at a joint news conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

“Sufficient non-forest lands exist for Indonesia to accommodate the growth of its vitally important plantation industries, a major source of livelihoods,” the Indonesian government delegation in Oslo said.

The agreement will be legally binding once Norway signs a deal with the financial institution managing the fund.

Fitrian Ardiansyah, World Wildlife Fund Indonesia’s climate and energy director, welcomed the move but said it still depended on how the government treated the moratorium. “It could be a good opportunity if those two years were used to review development plans to decide whether programs such as the Merauke food estate are beneficial.”

The massive Merau­ke Integrated Food and Energy Estate in Papua, activists say, will see more than 1.1 million hectares of forests felled. Presidential climate adviser Agus Purnomo said, “we will work it out so that there will be no peatlands converted.”

But Elfian Effendi of Greenomics Indonesia was unconvinced. “I’m sure in the process Norway will be disappointed with Indonesia in keeping the agreement.”

Greenomics said earlier this year that the Ministry of Forestry’s proposed forestry program put about 3.4 million hectares of forests at risk of development over the next 10 years.

Indonesia Puts Moratorium On New Forest Clearing
Sunanda Creagh, PlanetArk 28 May 10;

Indonesia will place a two-year moratorium on new concessions to clear natural forests and peatlands under a deal signed with Norway aimed at reducing greenhouse gases, the government said in a statement.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Wednesday witnessed the signing of an agreement in Oslo under which Norway will invest $1 billion in forest conservation projects in Indonesia.

"In the second phase of the partnership, Indonesia is prepared to suspend for two years new concessions for the conversion of peat and natural forest lands," said the statement issued late on Wednesday after the talks.

"Sufficient non-forest lands exist for Indonesia to accommodate the growth of its vitally important plantation industries, a major source of livelihoods in Indonesia."

The suspension would encourage the development of new plantations "on degraded lands rather than vulnerable forests and peatlands."

Previous concessions already granted to clear forest land are likely to still be honored, since the statement only referred to new concessions.

Palm oil firms such as Wilmar and Indofood Agri Resources have big expansion plans in Indonesia, already the largest producer of an oil used to make everything from biscuits to soap.

Part of Norway's $1 billion will be spent on creating monitoring systems and pilot projects under a U.N.-backed forest preservation scheme called Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD).

REDD allows developing nations to earn money by not chopping down their trees and preserving carbon-rich peatlands, seen as key to slowing climate change because forests soak up huge amounts of greenhouse gases.

The Oslo deal will see a new Indonesian government agency tasked with prioritizing and co-ordinating REDD projects.

"That is very important. There are conflicting claims on land and while we are having this moratorium, this agency can review those conflicts," said a source in the REDD development industry, who asked not to be named.

A separate, additional agency will be formed "to create a national system to monitor, report and verify emissions and emissions reductions," the statement said.

A database of degraded land will also be created.

A vast food estate planned for eastern Indonesia's heavily forested Papua province would still be created following the announcement, Papua governor Barnabas Suebu told Reuters by telephone text message.

"But it will be in the context of this green policy," he said. "The land that will be used for the food estate is of very low value of carbon and biodiversity."

The Indonesia-based Center for International Forestry Research welcomed the deal, which they said could be "a game-changer in the drive to make REDD a reality."

Greenpeace Indonesia called for a moratorium on all forest and peatland conversions, including existing concession permits.

Indonesia has vowed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent from business-as-usual levels by 2020, or by 41 percent with sufficient international support.

(Editing by Neil Chatterjee)