POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesia's Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) NET SINK 2030 operational plan, launched by the country's Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya in March this year, is ensuring that Indonesia remains on track to achieving a level of net zero deforestation by 2030, in alignment with a pledge made by President Joko Widodo and other world leaders at COP26 Glasgow in early November last year.
Minister Nurbaya conveyed this message while delivering remarks at the signing of an MoU (May 20) between her ministry and the US government through USAID Indonesia. This MoU reflects the spirit of climate partnership in supporting Indonesia's FOLU NET SINK 2030 operational plan, in line with the USAID 2022-2030 Climate Strategy.
"Our FOLU NET SINK 2030 has been constructed on the basis of our experience and knowledge in implementing policies and international cooperation over the last seven years," said Minister Nurbaya.
She added that Indonesia's experience and knowledge pertain especially to the issues of forest and land fires, peatland restoration and management, the permanent moratorium on new licenses in primary forest and peatland, land and biodiversity conservation, forest and land rehabilitation, community participation, and law enforcement.
Reduced deforestation, flagship species
The first point in the MoU signed by the two governments concerns support for Indonesia's efforts to further reduce deforestation and forest degradation, with evidence pointing to a consistent decline in this during President Joko Widodo's term in office.
At the signing event, US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim congratulated the Environment and Forestry Ministry on its enormous efforts to reduce deforestation in Indonesia. “We are pleased to see that deforestation rates have reached a 20-year low. The United States is eager to support the Ministry to help guarantee the long-term sustainability of recent gains,” he enthused.
Ambassador Kim went on to say, “This MoU marks the continuation of a productive US-Indonesia collaboration in the land use and marine sectors. We hope this MoU will lead to a new Grant Implementation Agreement (GIA) between USAID and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to support sustainable land use management and biodiversity conservation, particularly of iconic species such as orangutans.”
Minister Nurbaya echoed the ambassador’s hope for moving forward with a GIA as a means of realizing the MoU’s support for Indonesia's efforts to maintain the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, while boosting sustainable forest management, forest rehabilitation, peatland and mangrove restoration, and conservation and biodiversity - including the protection of flagship species.
Ambassador Kim concluded his remarks by emphasizing that "The United States stands behind Indonesia's commitments and ongoing efforts in conserving wildlife and their habitats and we look forward to continuing our constructive partnership that is fully aligned with the priorities of the Government of Indonesia."
Minister Nurbaya expressed her gratitude for the ambassador’s reaffirmation of US backing for Indonesia's commitments, including most notably the country’s persistent endeavours in the areas of wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.
Permit revocations
Ambassador Kim also applauded the recent revoking of hundreds of palm oil permits, as announced by President Widodo in early January this year. This included the revoking of forestry and mining permits, along with palm oil permits, spanning millions of hectares.
According to the ambassador, the Indonesian government's leadership forms part of efforts “to achieve greater protection of forests and forest resources."
Minister Nurbaya expressed her gratitude and appreciation for this statement, while also reemphasizing that the permit revocation announcement was motivated by various climate goals.
“Our President has displayed great leadership by providing greater protection to our forests and forest resources, including through the revocation of millions of hectares of palm oil, forestry and mining permits. The objectives of this are to reduce the pressure on natural forests, strengthen agrarian reforms and social forestry, and build new effective community-private sector partnerships," Minister Nurbaya explained.
Work in partnership
Secretary General Bambang Hendroyono, who signed the MoU on behalf of the ministry, pointed out that the work in partnership with USAID encompasses current work and efforts from priority areas in the FOLU NET SINK 2030 operational plan.
The scope of cooperation, he elaborated, includes information and knowledge exchanges, the development and implementation of joint projects, stakeholder engagements, and collaborations in various activities and research.
Meanwhile, USAID Indonesia Mission Director Jeff Cohen, who signed the MoU on behalf of USAID, contributed to the event by stating, “Through this MOU, we are pleased to deepen our partnership with the Government of Indonesia to address the challenges of climate change by supporting the ministry’s leadership on sustainable land use and protecting valuable forests across the country that are so vital for Indonesia's prosperous, resilient, green future.”
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POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesia's Forestry and Other Land Use (FOLU) NET SINK 2030 operational plan, launched by the country's Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya in March this year, is ensuring that Indonesia remains on track to achieving a level of net zero deforestation by 2030, in alignment with a pledge made by President Joko Widodo and other world leaders at COP26 Glasgow in early November last year.
Minister Nurbaya conveyed this message while delivering remarks at the signing of an MoU (May 20) between her ministry and the US government through USAID Indonesia. This MoU reflects the spirit of climate partnership in supporting Indonesia's FOLU NET SINK 2030 operational plan, in line with the USAID 2022-2030 Climate Strategy.
"Our FOLU NET SINK 2030 has been constructed on the basis of our experience and knowledge in implementing policies and international cooperation over the last seven years," said Minister Nurbaya.
She added that Indonesia's experience and knowledge pertain especially to the issues of forest and land fires, peatland restoration and management, the permanent moratorium on new licenses in primary forest and peatland, land and biodiversity conservation, forest and land rehabilitation, community participation, and law enforcement.
Reduced deforestation, flagship species
The first point in the MoU signed by the two governments concerns support for Indonesia's efforts to further reduce deforestation and forest degradation, with evidence pointing to a consistent decline in this during President Joko Widodo's term in office.
At the signing event, US Ambassador to Indonesia Sung Y. Kim congratulated the Environment and Forestry Ministry on its enormous efforts to reduce deforestation in Indonesia. “We are pleased to see that deforestation rates have reached a 20-year low. The United States is eager to support the Ministry to help guarantee the long-term sustainability of recent gains,” he enthused.
Ambassador Kim went on to say, “This MoU marks the continuation of a productive US-Indonesia collaboration in the land use and marine sectors. We hope this MoU will lead to a new Grant Implementation Agreement (GIA) between USAID and the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to support sustainable land use management and biodiversity conservation, particularly of iconic species such as orangutans.”
Minister Nurbaya echoed the ambassador’s hope for moving forward with a GIA as a means of realizing the MoU’s support for Indonesia's efforts to maintain the reduction of deforestation and forest degradation, while boosting sustainable forest management, forest rehabilitation, peatland and mangrove restoration, and conservation and biodiversity - including the protection of flagship species.
Ambassador Kim concluded his remarks by emphasizing that "The United States stands behind Indonesia's commitments and ongoing efforts in conserving wildlife and their habitats and we look forward to continuing our constructive partnership that is fully aligned with the priorities of the Government of Indonesia."
Minister Nurbaya expressed her gratitude for the ambassador’s reaffirmation of US backing for Indonesia's commitments, including most notably the country’s persistent endeavours in the areas of wildlife conservation and habitat preservation.
Permit revocations
Ambassador Kim also applauded the recent revoking of hundreds of palm oil permits, as announced by President Widodo in early January this year. This included the revoking of forestry and mining permits, along with palm oil permits, spanning millions of hectares.
According to the ambassador, the Indonesian government's leadership forms part of efforts “to achieve greater protection of forests and forest resources."
Minister Nurbaya expressed her gratitude and appreciation for this statement, while also reemphasizing that the permit revocation announcement was motivated by various climate goals.
“Our President has displayed great leadership by providing greater protection to our forests and forest resources, including through the revocation of millions of hectares of palm oil, forestry and mining permits. The objectives of this are to reduce the pressure on natural forests, strengthen agrarian reforms and social forestry, and build new effective community-private sector partnerships," Minister Nurbaya explained.
Work in partnership
Secretary General Bambang Hendroyono, who signed the MoU on behalf of the ministry, pointed out that the work in partnership with USAID encompasses current work and efforts from priority areas in the FOLU NET SINK 2030 operational plan.
The scope of cooperation, he elaborated, includes information and knowledge exchanges, the development and implementation of joint projects, stakeholder engagements, and collaborations in various activities and research.
Meanwhile, USAID Indonesia Mission Director Jeff Cohen, who signed the MoU on behalf of USAID, contributed to the event by stating, “Through this MOU, we are pleased to deepen our partnership with the Government of Indonesia to address the challenges of climate change by supporting the ministry’s leadership on sustainable land use and protecting valuable forests across the country that are so vital for Indonesia's prosperous, resilient, green future.”
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