Unsatisfactory Forestry Permit Moratorium

Jakarta, Kompas – The National Strategy for Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation is at risk of not being implemented. The document issued by the REDD+ Institutional Preparation Task Force is considered weak in terms of legislation.

The National Strategy for Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation (Stranas REDD+) was established through a Decree issued by the Head of the REDD+ Institutional Preparation Task Force. This level of Decree is deemed insufficient to guarantee implementation in the field.

The weak legal position is regretted by the Indonesian Forest and Global Climate Rescue Coalition. “Ideally, this National Strategy should be established at a minimum through a presidential regulation (perpres),” said Teguh Surya from Greenpeace Indonesia at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday (28/1). Perpres oversees cross-sectoral matters under the President’s authority.

The press conference was held together with the Association for Community and Ecological Law Reform (HuMA). They represent the Civil Society Coalition for Forest and Global Climate Rescue, urging the government to save the remaining forests in Indonesia.

“At first, we hoped that this National Strategy could be the beginning of forest management that is free from corruption, transparent, and improves the governance of Indonesian forests, namely by removing various bottlenecks,” said Anggalia Putri from HuMA.

According to Anggalia, the weakness in terms of the Decree level makes it difficult to implement programs within the National Strategy. The reason is that REDD+ is related to the forestry sector or other ministries whose authority is regulated by laws.

Previously, several parties expressed their hopes for the existence of Stranas REDD+. One of them, as stated by Professor of Forestry Policy at the IPB University Hariadi Kartodihardjo, is that it could address land conflicts related to the recognition of indigenous rights (Kompas, 8/9/2012).

However, all of this requires a connection between Stranas REDD+ and regulations at the ministry level.

Impression Weakened

Teguh Surya stated that the content of Stranas REDD+ actually accommodates input from indigenous communities and civil society organizations. One of them is demonstrated by the inclusion of safeguard mechanisms that prioritize human rights and indigenous/traditional communities.

However, he regrets that the already good substance of Stranas REDD+ appears weakened. Therefore, the preparation of Stranas that drains the energy of the task force and civil society and indigenous communities is felt to be in vain.

Furthermore, Stranas REDD+ has not been implemented yet. Because the President has not yet signed the draft presidential regulation containing the establishment of the REDD+ institution.

The draft was submitted by the REDD+ Institutional Preparation Task Force to the Presidential Palace since October 2012. The hope was that before the REDD+ Task Force’s term ended on December 31, 2013, the institution would have been established.

The REDD+ Task Force’s term has been extended through Presidential Decree Number 5 of 2013 concerning Amendments to Presidential Decree Number 25 of 2011 regarding the REDD+ Institutional Preparation Task Force. According to Presidential Decree Number 5 of 2013 signed by the President on January 22, 2013, the REDD+ Institutional Preparation Task Force is tasked with forming the REDD+ institution at the latest by June 2013.

Not Serious

In addition to the weakening of Stranas REDD+, Teguh also notes the government’s lack of seriousness in managing forests. This is evidenced by the forestry permit moratorium set to end in May 2013, which until now has not shown any promising or enlightening indications.

On the contrary, natural forests continue to be threatened with conversion into plantations or reclassified as mining areas. This is widespread in several regions.

The moratorium established through Presidential Instruction Number 10 of 2011 and valid for two years is also considered insufficient to improve the governance of Indonesian forests. “We hope the moratorium is continued with fundamental substance. One of them is reviewing all forestry permits,” said Teguh.

The pause in issuing forestry permits is urged to be based on achievements, not time. Achievement-based is considered to be closer to solving the problem than just setting a time target. (ICH)

http://cetak.kompas.com/read/2013/01/29/03045698/stranas.redd.terancam.sia-sia