Central Kalimantan has been designated as a pilot province in the collaboration on climate change between the governments of Indonesia-Norway and Indonesia-Australia, aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, commonly known as REDD+. Its status as a pilot province has triggered a series of processes in policy-making, regulations, and institutions to carry out various REDD+ activities in the readiness phase, including the implementation of various demonstration activities (DA).

The Forestry and Climate Change Program of HuMa in Central Kalimantan in 2011-2012 focused on capacity development and empowerment of local NGOs and communities concerned with community rights issues in natural resource management and ecological sustainability to conduct rights-based monitoring on various REDD+ processes unfolding in the region, in order to prevent further marginalization of communities living inside and around forest areas. An initial study conducted by HuMa in Central Kalimantan in 2011 revealed numerous violations of the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities residing inside and around the REDD+ DA areas, particularly the rights to information, participation, and the right to decide to accept or reject the REDD+ project itself through free prior and informed consent based on accurate information provided before the project commencement. The study results served as the foundation for preparing resources and infrastructure for rights-based REDD+ monitoring in Central Kalimantan.

Climate Justice Learning Circle

Various capacity-building activities carried out in Central Kalimantan in 20XX, in collaboration with the Central Kalimantan Environmental Forum (WALHI Kalteng) and networks, evolved into the Climate Justice Learning Circle (LBKI) with the aim of accelerating the emergence of climate justice advocates in Central Kalimantan, promoting synergy among various civil society elements in climate justice advocacy, and fostering the development of climate justice advocacy models and strategies relevant to the local economic-political dynamics. This Learning Circle has established several study groups that have initiated monitoring activities in four REDD+ issue areas: safeguards, moratorium, institutions, and policies.

Monitoring in the first quarter of 2012 focused on the aforementioned four issues, covering the areas of Katunjung Village and Mantangai Hulu Sub-district in Kapuas Regency, Central Kalimantan. The monitoring report will be published in 2012. The activities in the First Quarter monitoring are expected to continue to lead to annual monitoring of REDD+ activities in Central Kalimantan. Through this Learning Circle, HuMa also aims to expand the People’s Legal Aid network to strengthen the legal reform movement to achieve a fair legal system and natural resource management practices.