Efforts to mitigate climate change have included further stakeholders to an already complex mix of actors and interests in the forest sector. Indonesia, being the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gases from the rapid degradation of its rainforests and peatlands, is a key country with regard to a new policy instrument for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). The Indonesian government has issued regulations specifically written to address REDD and announced that it "will take immediate and decisive action to reduce its forest and peat related greenhouse gas emissions." President Yudhoyono declared a two-year moratorium on new concessions for converting natural forests and peatlands into plantations. Norway will support this effort with $1 billion over the next few years.



Despite the positive intention, doubts remain about whether this REDD partnership can realize its potential benefits: Indonesia’s forest sector is characterized by extensive and systematic illegal logging, corruption and mismanagement. A report from the BlueGreen Alliance states that 40 to 55 percent of Indonesian timber is illegally sourced. Moreover, the government already attempted to classify environmentally devastating palm oil plantations as forests in order to reap financial incentives from REDD schemes. Such rewards would accelerate further clearance of natural forest, and propel biodiversity loss and climate change.



Likewise, diverging and conflicting forest policies at different levels have already exacerbated land conflict in Indonesia. A study by the World Agroforestry Centre highlights that land tenure insecurity and contested forest policies have led to conflict and competing tenure claims between and within local communities in the Central Kalimantan region. Disputes revolved around conservation and access rights, palm oil concessions, and village border conflicts. Therefore, clarity on customary tenure rights, safeguards for their protection, conflict resolution mechanisms and participatory, transparent forest governance are a prerequisite for REDD to succeed – in Indonesia as well as elsewhere. (Christiane Roettger)



The Norwegian press release is available here.



The report of the BlueGreen Aliance, "Illegal Logging in Indonesia. The Environmental, Economic and Social Costs," is available for download at http://www.bluegreenalliance.org/admin/publications/files/BGA-IndonesiaLogRpt-p7-Wells.pdf.



The study by the World Agroforestry Centre can be accessed here.



Further news can be found at http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/02/17/new-area-be-available-oil-palm-plantations.html.

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, June 2010