Jakarta, January 28, 2013. The Indonesian Forest and Global Climate Rescue Coalition questions the realization of the government’s pro-poor and pro-green commitments. Forest conservation measures outlined in the REDD+ National Strategy are at risk of not being implemented because the REDD+ institutional framework as mandated within it has not even been established. Meanwhile, the REDD+ Task Force has completed its term.
Adding to the existing urgency, the Delay of New Permit Issuance and Forest Governance Improvement as stipulated through Presidential Instruction No. 10 of 2011 (known as the Moratorium Instruction) will expire in May 2013, and the next concrete steps are still unclear. The remaining natural forests continue to shrink each year, as seen in Papua Province. Based on the PIPIB revision 3 analysis, Greenpeace found that there have been changes in the area’s function from protected forests to production forests covering an area of 339,791 Ha.
This regulation has not been able to fundamentally improve Indonesia’s forest governance because its implementation is limited to a mere 2 years. Until now, only about 14 percent of forest areas have been legalized and obtained a new legal status. Furthermore, as of 2012, only 14 provinces have had Provincial Spatial Planning Regulations (RTRWP). However, RTRWP plays a crucial role in controlling and securing forest areas from being targeted for widespread regional government permits. This poor governance has led to ongoing forest conflicts. The National Forestry Council even recorded conflicts in land tenure management in 19,420 villages across 33 provinces throughout Indonesia, such as those in Mesuji, Senyerang, and Pulau Padang, while the status of 31,957 villages within and around forest areas remains unclear. The extent of conflicts in the forestry sector is the highest compared to other agrarian sectors, reaching over 1.2 million hectares (HuMa, 2012).
On the other hand, disasters resulting from the continued reduction of forest areas as water catchment areas and other ecological support facilities have been occurring on a massive scale. Floods in Jambi, Central Kalimantan, and not forgetting the flash floods in Wasior, Papua, should serve as a warning for forest management. The recent floods in Jakarta should be a wake-up call to save the forests. However, efforts to rescue the forests always face obstacles. The issuance moratorium is obstructed from the start of the issuance process, and its substance is then diminished. The exception clause in the Presidential Instruction implies the accommodation of interests to continue harming the forests.
Apart from weak legal foundations and vague task coverage and division, a review of previously issued permits has also been removed from the Presidential Instruction. The National REDD+ Strategy is developed as an effort to fundamentally and comprehensively improve Indonesia’s forest governance. Its development was done openly and involved relevant parties. It is recognized that there is currently an acute forest governance issue that requires an extraordinary resolution, not business as usual. However, these efforts are also weakened. The National Strategy that was expected to be issued at least by Presidential Regulation was eventually only stipulated by the Chief of the REDD+ Institutional Preparation Task Force Decree (Decree No. 02/SATGAS REDD+/09/2012), a clear legal weakening process.
In response to the above situation, the Coalition urges the government to promptly make fundamental and comprehensive improvements to natural resource governance through extending the achievement-based moratorium and implementing the National REDD+ Strategy comprehensively to systematically address the neglect of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, which have been triggering tenure conflicts and pushing Indonesian forests towards the brink of destruction. [END]

Forest and Climate Coalition Press Release Jan 28, 2013

Press Release Coalition 28 Jan 2013 ENG FINAL