(AFP) Google News 19 Jan 12;
JAKARTA — Indonesia's forestry ministry said Thursday it would conserve nearly half its share of Borneo island, which is covered with dense rainforest, so as to meet a presidential pledge to reduce gas emissions.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree authorising conservation of at least 45 percent of its share of Borneo island, officials said, in a nation that is the world's third-worst emitter of greenhouse gases.
"We hope with the decree, Indonesia will be able to meet its target of reducing gas emissions by 26 percent by 2020," forestry ministry secretary general Hadi Daryanto told AFP.
"At least 45 percent of Indonesian Borneo will serve as the lungs of the world," a release by the president's office said.
Global environment organisations put Indonesia as the world's third-worst emitter of greenhouse gases. They say emissions are mainly due to deforestation caused by the giant palm oil and paper industries, both rife with corruption.
Daryanto said the areas protected will be bigger than the "Heart of Borneo", a 2007 agreement signed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei to protect 220,000 square kilometres (85,000 square miles) of equatorial rainforest.
Indonesia's share of Borneo covers about 544,000 square kilometres (210,000 square miles). Its forests are home to some of the world's most diverse wildlife, but are under threat from mostly illegal plantations and logging.
Indonesia shares Borneo island with Malaysia and Brunei.
President: 45% of Kalimantan island for biodiversity conservation
Antara 20 Jan 12;
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed a regulation that 45 percent of Kalimantan island must be used for biodiversity conservation and tropical rainforest vegetation reserves to make the island the world`s lungs, a report said.
Under the presidential regulation signed on January 5, 2012, the government would take a number of steps to declare the island the world`s lungs by among others preserving areas which had biodiversity for endemic plants and animals and developing ecosystem corridors among conservation areas, the Cabinet Secretariat said in its official website on Thursday.
According to the presidential regulation No. 3 of 2012, the government will also make an effort to prevent activities that may disturb the reserve areas.
The remaining 55 percent of Kalimantan island can be used to support the government`s program to achieve energy self-sufficiency and national energy barns for electrical power and develop the island into a mineral, coal, oil and gas mining center, the regulation said.
In addition, it can also be used for sustainably developed oil palm and rubber plantations and timber estate; front veranda and gateway of the country bordering Malaysia; water-based national urban area development center; tropical forest-based ecotourism and Kalimantan culture tourism; inter-mode transportation networks; and food self-sufficiency and national food barn. (*)
Editor: B Kunto Wibisono
Indonesia signals intent to conserve Borneo’s “lungs of the world”
WWF 26 Jan 12;
Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree on Jan 5 authorising conservation of at least 45 percent of its share of the island of Borneo, known as Kalimantan.
The decree covers a massive area of more than 250,000 km2 encompassing vast tracts of rainforest in the Heart of Borneo and landscapes beyond.
"At least 45 percent of Indonesian Borneo will serve as the lungs of the world… with the plan ensuring that local ecosystems are protected and the biodiversity of the island is allowed to flourish," a presidential press release said.
Indonesia is rated as the world's third-worst emitter of greenhouse gases with emissions mainly due to deforestation caused by expanding palm oil, timber and pulp & paper industries.
"We hope with the decree, Indonesia will be able to meet its target of reducing gas emissions by 26 percent by 2020," forestry ministry secretary general, Hadi Daryanto, told the international media.
The regulation looks to promote the sustainable use of the island’s resources while ensuring an ambitious network of conservation areas are linked together by a series of “ecosystem corridors". In addition, existing protected areas are to be strengthened and degraded areas rehabilitated.
A new measure of capital?
The Presidential press release also noted that Kalimantan would become a center for plantations of palm oil, rubber and other sustainable forest products, an issue which has raised concerns amongst some international organizations.
Adam Tomasek, head of the WWF’s Heart of Borneo Initiative, believes the new decree offers a fantastic opportunity to secure the future of Borneo as a place where sustainable development exists in balance with a practical and beneficial conservation regime. However, the targets set out in the regulation will not be met unless the values of ecosystems and biodiversity, or ‘natural capital’, become key features of future economic development planning.
“WWF has been working for a long time with both National and local governments to develop spatial plans, and engage businesses and communities to drive conservation and sustainable development in Borneo. The decree is a leadership statement from the President of Indonesia that will help ensure the previous commitments on the Heart of Borneo will be met,” Mr Tomasek said.
