President Yudhoyono promises to dedicate the next three years to protecting Indonesia’s forests

7 comments to President Yudhoyono promises to dedicate the next three years to protecting Indonesia’s forests

• Chris Lang

  (#1) 28 September 2011 at 3:36 pm

  The full text of Yudhono’s speech is available on CIFOR’s Forests Blog.

• Nigel Miles

  (#2) 28 September 2011 at 8:35 pm

  Well at last…the most important comment made…..”10 years ago this concept of discussion at this top level of oligarchy would have been impossible!”

  Irrespective of the words spoken there is now at least a portal for action…if nothing more, but now we need to redirect our actions 1000 times…NOW!

  My own interpretation is too deep for a blog comment…but let us now test the President’s direction with actual action which I hope will include some aspect of my own SEEBif Initiative…which can be grasped and downloaded on the Green Economic Coalition on their website in the future.

  Andrew Steer is not correct; 15 million hectares of wasted land in Indonesia is ripe for natural restoration. Oil palm production is only 10% productive; we need photon-electric production for natural “bio-energy” not pathetic plantation crop which is more useful to the local and national communities as natural forest restoration with its real natural capital value….and real food needs not for capital flight of monies to the oligarchs of Palm Oil agri-industrial products….

  WE need education on the issues, from Steer downwards…..this is the real case….SEEBif can help direct this!

  Best wishes to all…

  Nigel

• Sam Lawson

  (#3) 29 September 2011 at 7:31 pm

  hiya, do you have a reference-able source for the 200 WB employees figure I can use? How are you defining ‘working full time on carbon markets’?

• Chris Lang

  (#4) 30 September 2011 at 8:25 am

  @Sam Lawson (#3) – Thanks for this. Andrew Steer mentioned this in his speech (about 9 minutes in). Here’s the context:

  “At the World Bank Group we do believe these carbon offset markets can be good for development. We think they bring money, they bring technology, they bring ideas and they bring jobs. And that’s why we have about 200 people working full time and such markets.”

  I don’t know how Steer defines “full time”, but I would guess they are employed by the Bank to do nothing else except work on carbon markets.

  I have updated the article to make it clear where this number comes from.

• Chris Lang

  (#5) 1 October 2011 at 11:22 am

  There’s more about the withdrawal of the regulation in this piece by Reuters (and a revealing quotation from the Minister of Forestry):

  Indonesia delays new palm expansion forestry rule for revision

  JAKARTA, Sept 28 | Wed Sep 28, 2011 11:15am BST

  (Reuters) – Indonesia will delay the implementation of a regulation on industrial forests that would have allowed planters, especially those growing palm oil, to cultivate areas reserved for timber and other domestic raw materials.

  The delay is aimed at making improvements to the proposed rule to make it consistent with previous decrees, and the government will issue the revised regulation as soon as possible, forestry minister Zulkifli Hasan said on Wednesday.

  By classifying palm oil as industrial forest, it will be easier for investors to get land permits from the government, opening up larger forest tracts for palm plantations.

  “This will harm many small scale planters, as big companies mostly have land bank in other usage areas that are not considered industrial forests,” Bahana Securities analysts said in a note.

  Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, is seen as an important player in the fight against climate change and is under strong international pressure to curb its rapid deforestation rate and destruction of carbon-rich peatlands.

  The world’s top palm oil producer has already revealed a long list of exemptions to its much-delayed two-year forest moratorium on logging that came into effect on May 20, in a concession to hard-lobbying plantation firms.

  Green groups had opposed the proposed regulation, which was introduced last month, arguing that government permission for palm oil cultivation on industrial forests may be abused by some in the industry.

  But Zulkifli told reporters the regulation’s suspension was not due to pressure from green groups.

  “We have been applying the industrial concept for many years and it has been successfully implemented in the paper and pulp as well as plywood industries,” he said.

  He added that currently, 30 percent of Indonesia’s wood production come from natural forests and 70 percent from industrial forests. (Reporting by Yayat Supriatna; additional reporting by Michael Taylor; Editing by Ramthan Hussain)

• Chris Lang

  (#6) 24 October 2011 at 8:29 am

  @Chris Lang (#1) – CIFOR has since taken down the full text of Yudhoyono’s speech. Here it is:

  Transcript of the President’s speech.

  SPEECH BY PRESIDENT

  SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO

  FORESTS INDONESIA CONFERENCE:

  ALTERNATIVE FUTURES TO MEET DEMANDS FOR FOOD, FIBRE, FUEL AND REDD+

  SEPTEMBER 27, 2011

  SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, JAKARTA

  Your Excellencies Minister Erik Solheim [ei-rik sul-haim] of Norway, and Minister Jim Paice [jim peis] of the United Kingdom,

  Your Honour Mrs Frances Seymour [fransis seimor], the Director General of CIFOR,

  Excellencies Ministers and Ambassadors,

  Chiefs of International Organizations,

  Distinguished Guests,

  Ladies and Gentlemen,

  First of all, let me begin by welcoming all of you to this important Conference.

  It is indeed an honour and pleasure for me and my Government, to be part of this important meeting. The theme of this conference, “Forest Indonesia: Alternative futures to meet the demands for food, fuel, fiber and REDD+” is very relevant and timely.

  For Indonesia, like many other countries blessed with tropical forests, are facing the challenge of sustainably managing its vitally important forest resources.

  Hence, let me congratulate the organizers, CIFOR and their partners, for bringing together—under one roof—forest stakeholders, from all over Indonesia and the world. We have among us government officials and representatives of NGOs, civil society as well as the business and academic communities.

  We may have different backgrounds, but we all have known the pleasure of resting in the cool shade of a tree.

  It would be nice if one day we could organize a conference like this in the open air, protected from the heat of the sun, by the green crown of sturdy trees.

  I am glad that this Conference discussion and its outcome will be shared online by audiences worldwide—including the forthcoming COP-17 in Durban, South Africa. This will be an excellent opportunity for us to stress on the importance to walk the talk, and not just talk the talk.

  On my part, I will continue my work and dedicate the last three years of my term as President, to deliver enduring results that will sustain and enhance the environment and forests of Indonesia.

  Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

  Exactly six months ago, in this same hotel, I spoke before the participants to the Business for the Environment Conference, or B4E conference. During that meeting I dared the business world to think innovatively—to create a balance between gaining economic benefits and ensuring the preservation and sustainability of the global environment.

  The aim of today’s meeting, logically, is to build upon the discussions held last April and re-affirm Indonesia’s pioneering role in harnessing forestry to the global effort to address climate change.

  Indeed, forests are so dear to my heart, and I am sure all of you also hold it close to your hearts. Forests are so precious because in the first place, if it were not for their air-filtering trees, we would all be breathing in polluted air and living in a much hotter world.

  If it weren’t for the shelter and food that forests provide, we would have scarce if any biodiversity at all. And the wonders of the animal world such as the Sumatran tiger, the rhinoceros and the orangutan would have gone extinct a long time ago.

  And most importantly, if it weren’t for the benefits that our forests provide, then our way of life, our people, our economy, our environment and our society would be so much poorer.

  Hence, the core of my message today is that our success in managing our forests will determine our future and the opportunities that will be available to our children.

  And yet, our forests remain under tremendous pressure.

  Globally we are facing the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. Global warming increasingly threatens our livelihood and even our very survival. On top of that, because we are facing another global financial crisis, nations may lose vigour in meeting their environment-related commitments.

  As a developing nation, we prioritize the promotion of growth and the eradication of poverty. But we will not achieve these goal by sacrificing our forests. We must attain both development and the management of our forests– simultaneously.

  This is because forest management is tightly intertwined with the livelihood of our people, with our food security, with the availability of wood and fuel. It is also closely linked with climate change.

  Therefore we need to take bold initiatives through close collaboration and partnership with all stakeholders.

  We must change the way we treat our forests, so that they are conserved even as we drive hard to accelerate our economic growth. We must intensify our efforts to cut down emissions from land use, land use change and forestry exploitation. These factors account for up to 85 percent of Indonesia’s entire greenhouse gas emissions.

  I do not want to later explain to my granddaughter Almira, that we, in our time, could not save the forests and the people that depends on it. I do not want to tell her the sad news that tigers, rhinoceroses, and orangutans vanished like the dinosaurs.

  And I am sure that none of you would want to deliver such grim news to your children and grandchildren. I am sure that you all want to see that those forests will still be there several decades from now—fascinating us with their beauty and the mysteries they hold. And still providing economic benefits while help stabilize the climate of planet Earth.

  And I am also sure that you would like these forests to become our precious legacy for our children.

  Ladies and Gentlemen,

  Let me now bring up a few questions that are relevant to your discussions in this meeting.

  First, at the global level, what would Indonesia’s sustainable forests management efforts mean?

  Indonesia’s tropical forests are the third largest in the world – and they are central to our economy, environment and society. Our forests host roughly 12 percent of the world’s mammals, 16 percent of its reptiles and amphibians and 17 percent of all bird species. Over 10,000 species of trees have been recorded across the archipelago. Each year many new species are discovered in Indonesia. This biological gift is intertwined with the rich cultural diversity of Indonesia’s forest.

  Forests are the lynchpin to our biodiversity. They are home to bees, bats, birds, insects and other pollinators of the crops we plant. They also help regulate the quality and availability of water for irrigation. Forests provide foods, including seeds, leaves, fruits, roots, gums, mushrooms, and habitat for animals.

  Indonesia, home to the third largest tropical forests in the world, views itself as the custodian of these great green treasures; and I want to keep it that way. So we are gathered here to deal collectively with those challenges to our forests.

  My next question is then, why is sustainable forest management so important to Indonesia?

  The first reason is food security. Indonesia’s 238 million citizens are under pressure of rising commodity prices. The Government of Indonesia is pursuing a programme to increase agricultural and forest productivity, particularly through the cultivation of critical and idle lands. In this regard, we have selected centers of rice production in several provinces throughout Indonesia. Indeed, the sustainability of forests is crucial to an abundant rice harvests.

  Secondly, in the area of energy security, our forests are home to potential sources of energy such as micro-hydro, geo-thermal, and bio-energy. We are increasing the portion of alternative sources of energy in our energy-mix. Forest ecosystems offer competitive advantage by making possible the replacement of conventional fuels by renewable energy sources.

  Thirdly, Indonesia is a major supplier of fiber. Indonesia’s land availability and the fast-growth of many tree species, supported by favorable tropical climate, have also increased the economic value of our forests.

  Fourthly, forests make the terrain more resistant to landslides that threaten many communities. They are vital to efforts at mitigating and adapting to climate change, the impact of which is now being felt all over our archipelago and the rest of the world.

  Also, our mangrove forests—the largest in the world—can protect coastal communities from the devastation that can be inflicted by storms and tsunamis. Moreover, mangrove forests serve as nurseries to many fish species that are of great commercial importance—and also crucial to our food security.

  Lastly, through our efforts at reducing CO2 emissions, Indonesia can make a significant positive impact on the climate situation. In this regard, although our peat swamp forests are the largest in the world, they have suffered degradation. That has greatly diminished their capacity to reduce CO2 emissions. Restoration is therefore essential.

  Hence, it is clear that Indonesia’s forests are of immense value. They offer us a lot of opportunities and benefits.

  We therefore need to go into partnership with all stakeholders to sustainably manage our forest resources.

  Ladies and Gentlemen,

  To ensure the sustainability of our forests while still meeting our development objectives, my Government has given priority to a set of policies and actions to safeguard our forests and ensure their sustainable management.

  I made a pledge at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh that we in Indonesia will voluntarily reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent from business-as-usual levels by 2020. Since then, my Government has carried out many initiatives.

  In 2010, we signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Norway to cut emissions by reducing deforestation and forest degradation. This is known as REDD Plus–a concept that was launched in Bali in 2007.

  In May this year, I instituted a two-year moratorium on new licenses to exploit natural primary forest and all peat lands. About two weeks ago, I signed a Decree outlining more than 70 self-funded government programs. This is a demonstration of our commitment to reduce by 26 percent our projected emission in 2020 under a business as usual scenario.

  These are groundbreaking steps, but they are not goals in themselves. They are simply measures that give us time and resources, to review and revise land use policy and practice. They also provide opportunity to develop a new sector in our economy—through ecosystem restoration concessions for carbon sequestration and emission reduction.

  Apart from the moratorium, we have built indicative maps that are important to the implementation of REDD Plus, and to the formulation of wise policies related to forests. These maps will also facilitate the resolution of decades-long problems of land use and land tenure.

  I have also signed a Decree to set up a Task Force for the establishment of a REDD+ agency as stated in the Letter of Intent. We are also developing a national strategy on REDD Plus. The strategy includes elements such as the establishment of REDD+ institutions, the formation of relevant financial mechanisms, monitoring and benefit-sharing. To this end, and to meet the REDD+ expected targets, global funding is necessary.

  I am happy to inform you that there are now more than 40 REDD Plus pilot or demonstration projects across Indonesia. This makes us a pioneer in creative ways to address climate change. It also provides us with research insights that will enrich our discussions today, and at the forthcoming global negotiations in COP17 in Durban, South Africa.

  Another initiative of ours is the Forest Eleven Forum that we launched four years ago, which has brought together major tropical forest countries. My Government has also pursued bilateral forestry cooperation with several countries.

  In the light of international enthusiasm for sustainable forest management, our local stakeholders must also take an active role in this field. I call upon our business leaders, particularly those in the palm oil, pulp wood and mining sectors, to partner with us by enhancing the environmental sustainability of their operations.

  Still another initiative is the provision of funding for small and medium enterprises run by forest-edge inhabitants, micro finance programmes for the rural poor and for women, and Local Development Projects (PNPM) for local villages.

  At the grassroots level, we have also launched a massive campaign programme to plant one billion trees nation-wide annually

  It is said that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I would like to say: “A billion trees a year shield the world’s lungs from decay.”

  Ladies and Gentlemen,

  Despite our modest achievements, I am mindful that these efforts will only take us part of the way towards our emission reduction target.

  A long journey still awaits us. We know we must do more, to address the primary sources of our greenhouse emissions, such as illegal logging, forest encroachment, forest and land fires, and peat land drainage. And indeed we are working hard and comprehensively to overcome these challenges.

  At the same time, we are mainstreaming all these perspectives and commitments into a special development framework. Our endeavours to effectively protect the environment are reflected in a special 15-year Master Plan to accelerate and expand our economic development. This means that sustainable development is part and parcel of our efforts to boost Indonesia’s economy, so that it will become the 12th largest economy by 2025.

  This meeting is of great value to Indonesia. It is a contribution to global efforts at protecting forests and to the advance of the climate change discourse. I am especially pleased to see many business leaders here today because they bring decades of experience to the table, and help to shape the future of our nation’s forests. I encourage all of you to forge greater cooperation with international partners.

  I ask you to join me in pledging to safeguard this national treasure, for the sake of our children.

  As I mentioned earlier, Indonesia, as custodian of one the largest tropical forests of the world, will continue to maintain a pro-environment growth strategy.

  The task before us today is to chart a sustainable future for our forests and meet our development objectives. This is not an easy task. But we will pay a much higher price if we do not take up the challenge. By working hard together, we can help guarantee the future of our forests. And the future of our children and grandchildren.

  That future begins now.

  I thank you

  Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

• H.Hutterer

  (#7) 15 May 2013 at 5:26 am

  Dear Mr. President

  Why do you promise such a lye? You have one of the most wonderfull forests of the world and so lovable creatures in your country. Why have they to die. Please don’t accept this.

  Helga Hutterer

  P.S.: Sorry for my bad english.