Siti Nurbaya Successfully Reduces Deforestation

JAKARTA - Minister of Environment and Forestry (LHK), Siti Nurbaya, told the world that efforts to reduce deforestation or natural forest removal by means of logging have been suppressed in the last three years.

The success of this deforestation also has an impact on the degradation or reduction in the level of various flora and fauna. This success made degradation decrease.

However, this success does not just come, of course, with hard work. Where 10 years ago, in May 2010, Indonesia and Norway signed a bilateral agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

This collaboration is inspired by the Reducing Emissions form Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD +) framework or Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

"In this case Indonesia has an ambitious commitment to reforming its forest management, and Norway pledges financial support of up to US $ 1 billion, most of which will be paid based on the verified results of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest and peat degradation in Indonesia," he said. Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry, Alue Dohong during the Press Conference for Indonesia-Norway Cooperation on REDD +, Wednesday 27 May.

As sovereign countries, Indonesia and Norway have a strong commitment to fighting global warming. Indonesia has set ambitious national emission reduction targets. The greatest contribution is expected from reducing deforestation, forest degradation and conversion of peatlands significantly.

Norway's role is twofold, financial assistance, and technical and scientific support. Norway has also set ambitious emission reduction targets at home and is working closely with the European Union.

Over the past decade, the two countries have worked tirelessly in a spirit of partnership. Both countries have received strong support from the community, civil society and academic institutions at home and internationally, and would like to take this opportunity to express their sincere gratitude to all the stakeholders involved.

“Indonesia has demonstrated strong leadership, and launched a number of institutional and regulatory reforms to improve forest governance across the country. "Important stages have been passed steadily along the path of the partnership between the two countries," said Alue.

Director General of Climate Change Control of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry Ruandha Agung Sugardiman added, regarding the successful achievement of Indonesia's REDD + readiness. The moratorium on the issuance of new permits for primary natural forest and peatland management began in 2011 and the status was permanent by President Jokowi in 2019.

A peatland moratorium, which began in 2017, to protect large areas of peatland, and the creation of the Peat Restoration Agency (BRG) in 2016 with plans to restore 2 million hectares of degraded peatland.

In 2018, the oil palm moratorium ended the development of new plantations on forested land and shifted the government's focus from expansion to intensification to secure future growth. The One Map Policy (KSP), known as the One Map Policy, is a general spatial planning tool for all of Indonesia - and all levels of government.

Forest management practices at the local level are strengthened through Forest Management Units (KPH) and the Social Forestry Program, including thousands of permits for farmers. In the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, a special directorate general has been formed to fight forest crimes.

“Norway has provided funding with certainty for this partnership as well as other green investments. In addition, great efforts have been made to introduce the "Indonesian way" to global partners and the world community. Indonesia has been working hard to promote efforts to protect tropical forests in international forums, "said Ruandha.

The early years of the partnership were dominated by attempts to define the challenges at hand, and identify the techniques needed to overcome them. During that time, the focus of cooperation was on increasing forest inventory and monitoring capacity, strengthening community awareness and involvement, developing sustainable business models and actively participating in the negotiation of global agreements on REDD + within the framework of a climate convention. It is important to note that this fundamental step is an essential element to the success that is now emerging.

President Jokowi's appointment of Siti Nurbaya as Minister of Environment and Forestry has proven to be a very successful move. For more than 5 years, he has campaigned tirelessly across the country to inform and consult thousands of communities and officials on the need for corrective policy reform.

Under his direction, "all things REDD +" was put under one umbrella, the Directorate General of Climate Change, together with the Directorate General of Law Enforcement which was established to combat forest crimes. If we look back at the priorities of ministries and ministerial policies over the past few years, it is not surprising that the current government can demonstrate a substantial reduction in emissions.