Indonesian Updates: Indonesia finally establishes REDD+ agency to tackle deforestation (7 Sep 2013)

Indonesia finally establishes REDD+ agency to tackle deforestation

September 07, 2013


Indonesia has finally established an agency to implement the country's Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) program.

The REDD+ agency, established by a decree from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday, is a ministry-level body that will coordinate a national REDD+ strategy between various ministries that influence and control land use policy across the sprawling archipelago. The agency will also oversee monitoring, reporting, and verifying emissions reductions as required under a billion dollar agreement signed with Norwayin 2010. Norway is compensating Indonesia on a performance-basis for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.

The pact with Norway stipulated the creation of the agency, but the process has lagged behind schedule due to disagreements between various bureaucracies. Nonetheless, REDD+ has been slowly moving forward in pilot provinces, including Central Kalimantan in Indonesian Borneo. The first REDD+ project —Rimba Raya— was approved in May.

Indonesia is also in the third year ofa moratorium on granting new logging and plantation concessionsin some 14 million hectares of previously unprotected rainforests and peatlands. The moratorium was also part of the Norway deal.

REDD+ has been strongly supported by President Yudhoyono under his plan to reduce emissions 26 percent relative a projected 2020 baseline. That target could rise to 41 percent with international aid. Indonesian is one of a handful of large developing countries that has set such goals.

More than 80 percent of Indonesia's greenhouse gas emissions result from land use, mostly peatlands degradation and rainforest destruction. Therefore curtailing logging and conversion of natural forests for plantations have emerged as top priorities for the country. More than half of forest loss in Indonesia is attributed to timber, pulp and paper, and palm oil production.


Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world. Click images to enlarge.

The Indonesian government is expected to announce the REDD+ agency's head in coming weeks, according to Mongabay-Indonesia. The REDD+ Task Force, which the REDD+ agency replaces, was run by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, a close advisor to the president.

The REDD+ agency will have 60 staff based in Jakarta.

Source: http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0907-indonesia-redd-agency.html