POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Addressing academics, leaders of the Media Group, students and other prominent figures, Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Professor Siti Nurbaya delivered a detailed and wide-ranging speech (Mar 27) at a Pesona Kampus Hijau event held at the Faculty of Forestry of IPB University.
In her remarks, the Minister praised the initiatives undertaken by IPB which complement the Pesona Kampus Hijau program, and stressed the crucial importance of environmental conservation, especially as it pertains to forest and land fire management policies and strategies.
"We understand that these fires present us with a tough challenge every year, and they remain a national priority that demands our continuous efforts," she declared.
Minister Nurbaya raised crucial concerns about the huge importance of a comprehensive approach to tackling forest and land fire management.
“It's about understanding the connection between policies, particularly regarding forest fires, and various factors like land use, peatland management, farming practices, water management, public involvement, and law enforcement, among others.”
The Minister conveyed the following words of warning: “There are (however) concerns about our country's reputation and sovereignty, especially in terms of indicators like deforestation and carbon emissions, which are challenging for developing nations.”
“This could potentially be used as a hegemonic tool by developed nations over countries like Indonesia, given that we have extensive state forest areas of 125 million hectares,” she added.
Professor Nurbaya also stressed the need for academic discourse to assess various aspects of forest and land fire management in a thorough manner.
Regarding technical aspects, the Minister discussed innovative techniques such as advancements in infrastructure management, peatland hydrology, cultivation practices, water balance analysis, protection of peat dome functions, weather modification, hotspot monitoring, and others.
Minister Nurbaya also emphasized the role of university campuses as centers of knowledge and innovation, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of forest and land fire management.
“There will surely be much discourse about this matter on this campus as it is a hub of knowledge. The topic of forest and land fires requires significant technical expertises,” she stated.
Keeping to commitments
Minister Nurbaya reiterated Indonesia's commitment, along with other UNFCCC member states, to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, underlining the importance of this in mitigating the impacts of climate-related disasters on human life and the environment.
The Minister warned that failure to achieve significant reductions could result in more frequent and intense hydrometeorological disasters like floods and droughts, particularly impacting vulnerable countries like Indonesia.
At the national level, she highlighted Indonesia's susceptibility to climate change impacts, citing data showing an increase in hydrometeorological disasters. Forest and land fires, along with floods, were identified as major disruptors of livelihoods and economies across the nation.
“This poses a major challenge for academic institutions and environmental practitioners, as almost all natural disasters, such as fires, droughts, floods, and landslides, are linked to climate change. We need a deep understanding of the complex factors influencing environmental phenomena,” the Minister explained.
She appealed for a rigorous academic approach to environmental and forestry studies, focusing on understanding the country’s landforms and their impact on natural disasters.
Highlighting constitutional provisions, Minister Nurbaya emphasized the rights of citizens to a clean environment and sustainable management of natural resources.
Reiterating Indonesia's commitment to the global climate agenda, the Minister stated, “Our enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target is aiming for a 31.89% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, potentially increasing to 43.20% with international support. Additionally, Indonesia is targeting net-zero emissions by 2060, with the forestry or FOLU sector playing a crucial role.”
Minister Nurbaya acknowledged Indonesia's challenges in setting ambitious emission reduction targets due to the country’s ongoing development phase. Nonetheless, she restated the forestry sector's importance in emission reduction efforts.
“The forest and land fires of 2015 triggered a series of corrective actions in all aspects, including forest management, timber management, landscape management, peatland governance, land use planning, permit controls, public participation, deforestation control, and law enforcement,” the Minister explained.
“It's no exaggeration to say that forest governance can be the savior when it comes to climate change. By implementing already established measures, most notably over nearly the last decade, it has the potential to significantly reduce emissions,” she elaborated.
Appropriate methodologies needed
The Minister went on to express optimism about Indonesia's emission reduction trajectory, underlining the importance of collaboration between government agencies, academic institutions, communities, and businesses.
Addressing challenges in deforestation as well as forest and land fire management, Minister Nurbaya underlined the need to explore fair and just methodologies suitable for Indonesia's diverse tropical landscape.
“Given the heterogenous landforms we have in Indonesia and the gaps in land inventory surveying techniques, we encourage the use of methods involving satellite image interpretation, field checks, and sampling,” the Minister explained.
“The challenge lies in the need to adapt to the conditions of tropical landscapes and rainforests. This adjustment involves defining rules for interpreting satellite imagery and modifying the approach to fieldwork, from pre-fieldwork to post-fieldwork, in land inventories,” she added.
According to Minister Nurbaya, such adjustments are critical as deforestation is an issue on which national reputation and prestige tend to be judged. Adverse judgements can lead to the implementation of international trade barriers, as in the case of the EUDR on products such as palm oil commodities, coffee, chocolate and timber.
In this vein, the Minister said that she welcomed initiatives to deepen discussions on landscape policy, methodology and technology at academic institutions as a means of ensuring that, ultimately, the right stakeholders impart the right information.
Commendable progress
Reflecting on incidents like the 2019 El Niño event, Minister Nurbaya explained that Indonesia prioritized preventive strategies and integrated technological advancements, operational efficiency, governance reforms, and public engagement in its approach towards forest fire prevention. These led to a significant decrease in forest and land fires from the previous El Niño in 2015.
The Minister pointed to President Jokowi's enhanced measures to combat forest and land fires. Despite the challenges posed by the intense 2023 El Niño event, Indonesia saw another substantial decline in greenhouse gas emissions from forest fires last year, signaling further progress in fire prevention efforts (a decrease of approximately 488,064.65 hectares, or 29.59%, in fire-affected areas compared to the devastating fires of 2019).
“This underscores Indonesia's proactive approach to permanent prevention efforts, involving various stakeholders such as government agencies, regional authorities, military and police, communities, activists and academics,” the Minister stated.
“These collaborative efforts, including law enforcement and judicial measures, have yielded significant and potentially outstanding results. Notably, in 2023, while global fires ravaged Canada, Brazil and the US, Indonesia's progress stands out as commendable,” she added.
Continued vigilance essential
Minister Nurbaya detailed the three pillars on which the nation's resolve to combat forest and land fires rests: an analytical approach leveraging climate and weather analysis; integrated field operations embracing early detection mechanisms and robust law enforcement; and landscape management focusing on peatland conservation, deforestation control, and partnerships with corporate entities and local communities.
Expressing gratitude for the success achieved to date in tackling forest and land fires, the Minister acknowledged stakeholders nationwide for their unwavering support and constructive engagement in dealing with this pressing issue.
“However, our sense of pride does not mean we can let our guard down. Moving forward, we must remain vigilant and continue to anticipate forest and land fires, as they still pose a threat to environmental management in Indonesia,” the Minister cautioned.
Minister Nurbaya concluded by expressing optimism that collaborative environmental initiatives would continue, serving as invaluable platforms for shared learning and collective action towards safeguarding Indonesia's natural heritage for generations to come.
RELATED STORIES
POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Addressing academics, leaders of the Media Group, students and other prominent figures, Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Professor Siti Nurbaya delivered a detailed and wide-ranging speech (Mar 27) at a Pesona Kampus Hijau event held at the Faculty of Forestry of IPB University.
In her remarks, the Minister praised the initiatives undertaken by IPB which complement the Pesona Kampus Hijau program, and stressed the crucial importance of environmental conservation, especially as it pertains to forest and land fire management policies and strategies.
"We understand that these fires present us with a tough challenge every year, and they remain a national priority that demands our continuous efforts," she declared.
Minister Nurbaya raised crucial concerns about the huge importance of a comprehensive approach to tackling forest and land fire management.
“It's about understanding the connection between policies, particularly regarding forest fires, and various factors like land use, peatland management, farming practices, water management, public involvement, and law enforcement, among others.”
The Minister conveyed the following words of warning: “There are (however) concerns about our country's reputation and sovereignty, especially in terms of indicators like deforestation and carbon emissions, which are challenging for developing nations.”
“This could potentially be used as a hegemonic tool by developed nations over countries like Indonesia, given that we have extensive state forest areas of 125 million hectares,” she added.
Professor Nurbaya also stressed the need for academic discourse to assess various aspects of forest and land fire management in a thorough manner.
Regarding technical aspects, the Minister discussed innovative techniques such as advancements in infrastructure management, peatland hydrology, cultivation practices, water balance analysis, protection of peat dome functions, weather modification, hotspot monitoring, and others.
Minister Nurbaya also emphasized the role of university campuses as centers of knowledge and innovation, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of forest and land fire management.
“There will surely be much discourse about this matter on this campus as it is a hub of knowledge. The topic of forest and land fires requires significant technical expertises,” she stated.
Keeping to commitments
Minister Nurbaya reiterated Indonesia's commitment, along with other UNFCCC member states, to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, underlining the importance of this in mitigating the impacts of climate-related disasters on human life and the environment.
The Minister warned that failure to achieve significant reductions could result in more frequent and intense hydrometeorological disasters like floods and droughts, particularly impacting vulnerable countries like Indonesia.
At the national level, she highlighted Indonesia's susceptibility to climate change impacts, citing data showing an increase in hydrometeorological disasters. Forest and land fires, along with floods, were identified as major disruptors of livelihoods and economies across the nation.
“This poses a major challenge for academic institutions and environmental practitioners, as almost all natural disasters, such as fires, droughts, floods, and landslides, are linked to climate change. We need a deep understanding of the complex factors influencing environmental phenomena,” the Minister explained.
She appealed for a rigorous academic approach to environmental and forestry studies, focusing on understanding the country’s landforms and their impact on natural disasters.
Highlighting constitutional provisions, Minister Nurbaya emphasized the rights of citizens to a clean environment and sustainable management of natural resources.
Reiterating Indonesia's commitment to the global climate agenda, the Minister stated, “Our enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target is aiming for a 31.89% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, potentially increasing to 43.20% with international support. Additionally, Indonesia is targeting net-zero emissions by 2060, with the forestry or FOLU sector playing a crucial role.”
Minister Nurbaya acknowledged Indonesia's challenges in setting ambitious emission reduction targets due to the country’s ongoing development phase. Nonetheless, she restated the forestry sector's importance in emission reduction efforts.
“The forest and land fires of 2015 triggered a series of corrective actions in all aspects, including forest management, timber management, landscape management, peatland governance, land use planning, permit controls, public participation, deforestation control, and law enforcement,” the Minister explained.
“It's no exaggeration to say that forest governance can be the savior when it comes to climate change. By implementing already established measures, most notably over nearly the last decade, it has the potential to significantly reduce emissions,” she elaborated.
Appropriate methodologies needed
The Minister went on to express optimism about Indonesia's emission reduction trajectory, underlining the importance of collaboration between government agencies, academic institutions, communities, and businesses.
Addressing challenges in deforestation as well as forest and land fire management, Minister Nurbaya underlined the need to explore fair and just methodologies suitable for Indonesia's diverse tropical landscape.
“Given the heterogenous landforms we have in Indonesia and the gaps in land inventory surveying techniques, we encourage the use of methods involving satellite image interpretation, field checks, and sampling,” the Minister explained.
“The challenge lies in the need to adapt to the conditions of tropical landscapes and rainforests. This adjustment involves defining rules for interpreting satellite imagery and modifying the approach to fieldwork, from pre-fieldwork to post-fieldwork, in land inventories,” she added.
According to Minister Nurbaya, such adjustments are critical as deforestation is an issue on which national reputation and prestige tend to be judged. Adverse judgements can lead to the implementation of international trade barriers, as in the case of the EUDR on products such as palm oil commodities, coffee, chocolate and timber.
In this vein, the Minister said that she welcomed initiatives to deepen discussions on landscape policy, methodology and technology at academic institutions as a means of ensuring that, ultimately, the right stakeholders impart the right information.
Commendable progress
Reflecting on incidents like the 2019 El Niño event, Minister Nurbaya explained that Indonesia prioritized preventive strategies and integrated technological advancements, operational efficiency, governance reforms, and public engagement in its approach towards forest fire prevention. These led to a significant decrease in forest and land fires from the previous El Niño in 2015.
The Minister pointed to President Jokowi's enhanced measures to combat forest and land fires. Despite the challenges posed by the intense 2023 El Niño event, Indonesia saw another substantial decline in greenhouse gas emissions from forest fires last year, signaling further progress in fire prevention efforts (a decrease of approximately 488,064.65 hectares, or 29.59%, in fire-affected areas compared to the devastating fires of 2019).
“This underscores Indonesia's proactive approach to permanent prevention efforts, involving various stakeholders such as government agencies, regional authorities, military and police, communities, activists and academics,” the Minister stated.
“These collaborative efforts, including law enforcement and judicial measures, have yielded significant and potentially outstanding results. Notably, in 2023, while global fires ravaged Canada, Brazil and the US, Indonesia's progress stands out as commendable,” she added.
Continued vigilance essential
Minister Nurbaya detailed the three pillars on which the nation's resolve to combat forest and land fires rests: an analytical approach leveraging climate and weather analysis; integrated field operations embracing early detection mechanisms and robust law enforcement; and landscape management focusing on peatland conservation, deforestation control, and partnerships with corporate entities and local communities.
Expressing gratitude for the success achieved to date in tackling forest and land fires, the Minister acknowledged stakeholders nationwide for their unwavering support and constructive engagement in dealing with this pressing issue.
“However, our sense of pride does not mean we can let our guard down. Moving forward, we must remain vigilant and continue to anticipate forest and land fires, as they still pose a threat to environmental management in Indonesia,” the Minister cautioned.
Minister Nurbaya concluded by expressing optimism that collaborative environmental initiatives would continue, serving as invaluable platforms for shared learning and collective action towards safeguarding Indonesia's natural heritage for generations to come.
RELATED STORIES
