BANTEN, Indonesia, Jan 10 (IPS) – Today, Indonesia’s forests can breathe a sigh of relief. While the dry season has ended and climate change impacts have increased in frequency and severity, no major fires have occurred, bringing plumes of smoke suffocating our region.
Tragically, as unprecedented drought plagues forests around the world, wildfires are becoming more intense elsewhere, including in the Amazon and even in New York City.
Global deforestation continues to be a growing concern. But in Indonesia, home to the third-largest extant tropical rainforest, deforestation rates remain lower than their peak eight to 10 years ago, despite climate impacts such as El Niño systems and the ongoing threat of large fires.
If Indonesia’s development remains unique, its importance will diminish. Forests in most forested countries remain vulnerable to deforestation pressures from economic interests seeking to exploit the natural resources they contain, as well as fires caused by climate change.
Scientists calculated: Almost half of all emissions from burning fossil fuels Over the past 30 years, it has been absorbed into the world’s forests. The world is gaining a greater understanding of how important forests are in the global fight against climate change.
Our experience, although it may seem basic, begins with something that too many countries are suffering from: stopping criminal enterprises from destroying their forests. Due to illegal logging and other forest crimes worldwide. $100 billion per year—It’s almost like the government provides development assistance every year.
In 2011, approximately 80% of Indonesia’s timber exports were considered illegal, meaning they were produced in violation of Indonesia’s own laws. This was a watershed moment that set us on a path to managing our forests more sustainably.
We first initiated a temporary moratorium on new logging permits in 2011 and made it permanent in 2019. We then implemented a new system (called SVLK) that traces the path of all wood products for export back to the forest from which they originated. harvest.
Today, 80% of our production from primary production forests is certified sustainability and all wood exports come from independently audited mills and forests. This is even true for markets outside the UK and EU where such systems are not required.
Indonesia was the first rainforest country to launch a traceability system, with only Ghana tracking timber on a similar scale. This is one of the first steps required of countries exporting wood to UK and EU markets, ensuring that wood products, including furniture and paper, are sourced sustainably and comply with all legal requirements.
Strong forest governance has increased the value of the country’s timber exports, and revenue is no longer lost to black market operations. Since the tracking system went online and exports to the UK and EU began in 2016, Indonesia’s timber exports to the EU have increased by 19% to around $1.4 billion.
Without programs that work with indigenous peoples and respect their forest management rights, accessing UK and EU markets would not have been possible.
Our traceability system provides reports showing that each production of timber for export respects these rights. Our support and collaboration with small and medium-sized enterprises has increased business and trade with forest-dependent communities and provided markets for bamboo, timber, wild foods, essential oils and spices.
Embracing sustainability, respecting indigenous rights and rejecting criminal enterprises can be embraced in every forest around the world.
The UK Government in particular has played an important role in supporting the implementation of these safeguards. Over the past two decades, long-term support for Indonesian forest stakeholders through forest governance, markets and climate programs has helped put in place new national systems and enabled local communities to monitor forest crime and strengthen management practices.
We see similar efforts as worthy of continued support, especially in Liberia and Cameroon. They have made tremendous progress in fighting illegal enterprises and recognizing the rights of communities. The many steps required to meet the needs of the UK and EU markets are important but require consistent funding and resources that can be difficult to find, especially during a recession.
Effectively managing the forestry sector requires partnerships with all communities and organizations participating in the supply chain, as well as all markets and requirements for sustainability and transparency.
We are grateful for the new 10-year partnership with the UK that has just concluded and look forward to the UK building new partnerships with other countries. Building these partnerships has benefits beyond profitability. Society benefits from greater stability, more trade, and positive climate outcomes.
and Dr. Justianto.He is Vice President of FOLU Net Sink 2030 in Indonesia and President of the International Peatland Center.
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