Indonesia Curbing Logging to Reduce Climate Change

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Indonesia Curbing Logging to Reduce Climate Change
   
April 2007 -   The 
governors of Indonesia's three most forested provinces have 
pledged to jointly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 
logging and land clearing to reduce the impact of climate 
change. Tropical rainforests absorb the greenhouse gas carbon 
dioxide, the main gas responsible for global warming. 
The governors of Aceh, Papua and Papua Barat provinces agreed 
on a policy of "environmentally friendly, sustainable economic 
development and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from 
deforestation." 
Another tree falls in the Indonesian rainforest. 
The agreement is also aimed at reducing poverty, protecting 
community rights over natural resources, stimulating 
employment, and attracting investment. 
The unprecedented pact to reduce carbon emissions was made 
Thursday at a roundtable meeting in Bali at the site of the 
upcoming United Nations climate change conference in December.
 Facilitated by the World Bank, the roundtable was attended by 
representatives of the Indonesian central government, civil 
society, the international community, and the private sector. 
The governors said they recognize their "special position as 
stewards of the largest natural forests in Indonesia," and 
also recognize "the important role Indonesia plays in global 
carbon emissions and the overwhelming contribution made by 
deforestation and land degradation." 
Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf said he will place a temporary 
moratorium on all logging in the province on the northern end 
of Sulawesi island where forests are being felled for timber, 
farming and housing. 
Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and West Papua Governor Abraham 
Octavian Atururis said they would revoke the licences of 
companies that log their tropical forests without replanting 
or contributing to local communities. They vowed to accelerate 
local development and community forestry. 
Papua and Papua Barat will develop a pilot project that 
carries out these policies in a 500,000 hectare (1.2 million 
acres) area. 
Both provinces will reallocate up to five million hectares 
(12.3 million acres) of conversion forest for carbon trading. 
Thousands more forest rangers will be employed to guard 
against illegal loggers, and helicopters will be utilized to 
monitor the vast rainforests. 
"All types of forests in Papua are dedicated to save planet 
Earth and future humanity – including the wise and prudent 
development of green industries," the two governors said. 
The three governors called for guidance from the Indonesian 
government and the support of the international community 
through carbon financing mechanisms and transfer of technology 
to protect the forests and provide income to local 
communities. Logs awaiting transport to market. West Papua,
 Indonesia, 2003 Indonesia wants rich countries to pay for
 preserving tropical 
rainforests. The government has signaled its intention to push 
this proposal at the UN climate conference in December. 
About 10 percent of the world's remaining tropical forests are 
found in Indonesia, which is around 60 percent forested 
Indonesia has already lost an estimated 72 percent of its 
original frontier forest, and half of what remains is 
threatened. Only 21 percent of Indonesia's forests are 
protected. 
Massive illegal logging is driving forest loss across 
Indonesia, according to the Environmental Investigation 
Agency, EIA, a nongovernmental research and advocacy group 
based in London and Washington. Over 80 percent of timber 
felled in Indonesia comes from illegal sources. 
Earlier this month the Indonesian government asked consumers 
to stop buying products made from illegally logged wood and to 
buy only wood certified as sustainably logged.
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