WWF - Green Business Network news

Al Gore and WWF unite to promote business solutions for forest conservation in the Heart of Borneo

2011-01-09

Jakarta, Indonesia - More than 600 hundred Indonesian government and business leaders joined former US Vice President and Nobel Laureate, Al Gore and WWF Indonesia's CEO, Dr. Efransjah at a gala dinner to celebrate the United Nation's International Year of the Forest and to discuss the role of business in finding forest solutions to the challenge of climate change.

Co-hosted by the Republic of Indonesia's House of Regional Representatives (DPD), WWF-Indonesia and Global Initiatives (GI), the dinner was part of the 2011 Business for Environment (B4E) Forest Dialogue - the forerunner to the world's leading international conference for business-driven action for the environment -the B4E Global Summit, organised by GI and scheduled for 27 - 29 April, 2011, in Jakarta.

As one of the world's most influential voices on the environment and climate change, Mr. Gore delivered an exclusive keynote address sharing his vision for the role of forests in a sustainable future.

"The beginning of the U.N. International Year of the Forests is the perfect time to have the impressive collaboration that this dinner and forthcoming B4E gathering between the business community, government leaders and NGOs represents," he said.

He went to outline the huge advantage for Indonesia to become the regional leader in the pursuit of a green economy in partnership with business.

"This may not be the easy choice today, but history will show that it is the right choice, morally, economically and environmentally," he said.

Heart of Borneo - Green Business Network

WWF marked the event by launching a new initiative called the Heart of Borneo - Green Business Network (HoB-GBN). This network aims to get business engaged in delivering the Heart of Borneo Declaration, made by the governments of Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia in 2007, to conserve and sustainably manage the 22 million hectare of trans-boundary forests called Heart of Borneo.

WWF's CEO, Dr Efransjah said: "we know the commitments under the Heart of Borneo Declaration cannot be achieved without the support of the private sector. Tonight, we highlight solutions for involving business in green growth and offer then a range of tools to help them to do that."

Business Solutions in the Heart of Borneo: Report

A report also launched by WWF on the night found that only 54% of businesses in the HoB had heard of the Tri-lateral government agreement - the 'Heart of Borneo Declaration - but that once they found out more information, many were willing to be involved and felt that business, as well as government, would have an important role to play.

"That's why we're launching the Green Business Network, to support business that wants to be part of the solution to climate change and environmental damage, not part of the problem," said Dr Efransjah.

The report, 'Business Solutions: Delivering the HoB Declaration' was prepared for WWF with project assistance by international business consultants, PwC, and focused on engaging with businesses in the HoB. The firm's global Sustainability and Climate Change team, including environmental specialists from the firm's Indonesia, Malaysia and the UK offices conducted research and analysis with 84 businesses in the region.

Malcolm Preston, global leader of Sustainability and Climate Change, PwC said: 

"The report demonstrates that early progress has been made in realising the Heart of Borneo vision. Without business engagement, however, sustainable economic development will be an uphill struggle. This is about working with business to build capacity and include them in a green growth economy, rather than excluding them, so that everyone in the area benefits."

In 2011, the United Nations' International Year of Forests, mean the eyes of the world will be on Indonesia as one the most forest rich nation on the planet and business will also be under the spotlight for their role in saving the remaining globally significant tropical rainforests. WWF hopes that HoB-GBN initiative helps to ensure that this is not a year of just further discussion of the problems but a real chance to start delivering solutions.

- ENDS -

For more information about the Green Business Network please contact:
Nazir Foead, Corporate Engagement Director – WWF Indonesia.
Tel +62 8119917857. Email: NFoead@wwf.or.id

Katie Stafford – Corporate Engagement Strategy Leader with WWF's Heart of Borneo Initiative
Tel +62 8111806948. Email: kstafford@wwf.or.id

For general media enquires on the Heart of Borneo Green Business Network:
Christopher Greenwood, Int. Communications Manager, Heart of Borneo Initaitive, WWF
Tel: +60 128281214 E-mail: chris.greenwood@wwf.panda.org

For more information about the Al Gore (B4E) Forest Dialogue and Dinner, please contact:
Devy Suradji, WWF-Indonesia Marketing and Communication Director, dsuradji@wwf.or.id
Tony Gourlay, Global Initiative Chief Executive Officer, tony.gourlay@globalinitiatives.com

Notes to editors

2011 Business for Environment (B4E) Forest Dialogue
Former VP Gore was also joined at the gala dinner, held the Shangri-La Hotel, by speakers: Irman Gusman (Chairman of the Indonesian House of Regional Representatives), El-Mustafa Benlamlih (Resident Coordinator for the United Nations) and Gita Wirjawan (Chairman of the Indonesian National Investment Board-BKPM).

Deforestation and Climate Change Deforestation is responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions and the vast forests of Indonesia can play a vital role in the fight against global warming. Indonesia has the opportunity to be a world leader in the pursuit of a low carbon growth economy which both conserves large areas of forest and ensures only sustainable development of remaining forest reserves. With initiatives such as REDD+, payment for eco-system services (PES) and carbon trading, the global community is increasingly willing to make financial contributions towards a sustainable future for Indonesia's forests. This Forest Dialogue marks Indonesia's first steps during the International Year of Forests to further explore these issues.

WWF's Heart of Borneo Initiative and its Green Business Network
WWF's Heart of Borneo Initiative was established to support the three governments of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam in their development of the Heart of Borneo Declaration. The Green Business Network (GBN) and the Business Solutions report were developed with support from international consultancy PWC.

The International Year of Forests 2011
The International Year of Forests 2011 is the United Nations' global platform to celebrate people's action to sustainably manage the world's forests. The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests. 

Global Initiatives
Global Initiatives promotes partnership solutions to global challenges through a portfolio of international events, television programmes and media projects. These initiatives bring together world leaders, CEOs, media and NGOs to advance multi-stakeholder action on some of the greatest challenges facing the world.

WWF- Indonesia
WWF as an international conservation organization in the world with the support of more than 5 million members faces a high challenge in implementing conservation programs and the challenges of encouraging environmentally friendly practices in the corporate world. WWF recognizes that support from all parties, both government, society and especially from companies operating in Indonesia is extremely necessary. So the partnerships with all parties are expected to reduce pressure on natural resources that are already in an alarming condition. WWF's unique way of working combines global reach with a foundation in science should be able to bridge the conservation and corporate needs, involves action at every level from local to global, and ensures the delivery of innovative solutions that meet the needs of both people and nature. Please visit www.wwf.or.id

Honey farmers branch out in Kapuas Hulu, West Kalimantan

2011-01-06

Bee farmers in the area surrounding Danau Sentarum National Park in the Heart of Borneo have been experimenting with a traditional means of honey collection using artificial branches, called 'tikung' to attract bees to build hives in flowering trees.

Knowledge of honey farming is contained within stories and lessons of the local culture and the people of Leboyan and Semangit in West Kalimantan have developed niche harvesting practices to suit the unique landscape surrounding their village.

Basriwadin, who has lived in Semangit village his whole life, explained, "A long time ago, when floods hit our village, there was a tree trunk washed away. When the water level went down, the trunk was seen stuck high in another tree and a colony of bees quickly came and built their hive in the driftwood. When a villager combed the beehive he harvested lots of honey. "

This simple observation inspired other villagers to manufacture similar 'tikung' branches using dead wood from the Tembesu tree, a large evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia.

"This tikung-board design aims at providing more space for the bees to build bigger nest," Basriwadin added. Tembesu logs are cut into small, curved boards around 1.5 m long and 25 cm wide, which resemble a kite and strategically placed as an attractive nest for bees thriving in trees in bloom.

Profits from the organic honey are a valuable alterative source of income for these communities, who until recently have relied almost entirely on revenue from fishing for their livelihoods. Honey is harvested during the wet season, which is incidentally when fishing provides the lowest yields, and sold to distribution partners, Forest Honey Indonesian Network and a West Kalimantan-based NGO, Riak Bumi.

According to the Forest Honey Bee Collectors' Association in Lake Sentarum (APDS), demand for their unique brand of honey increased 300% in the last three years, producing 16.5 tonnes in the 2008/2009 season and injecting around 462 million (Rp) into the local economy.

The environmentally sustainable processes of honey farming are also well suited to this remote part of Borneo which is also a valuable conservation area. The creation and harvest of beehives requires no irrigation, pesticides or fuels for management and the refinement process is undertaken in accordance with the Internal Control System (ICS) which was previously agreed amongst the farmers to maintain the hygienic integrity of their products.

The APDS currently boasts membership of 217 groups of collectors, known as 'Periau', from within the Danau Sentarum area. There is potential to expand this group attracting membership from another 21 Periau and with this increase, the cooperative revenue could exceed Rp 4 billion per season. As the offered prices and markets for this honey increase, so may the incomes of the people in and around the Danau Sentarum conservation area within the Heart of Borneo.

The HoB Initiative has a keen interest in supporting the people and communities within West Kalimantan and in 2009 contributed revolving funds of Rp100 million per annum for three years to assist the establishment of the APDS.

WWF-Indonesia's West Kalimantan Program also engages with the Indonesian Traditional Wisdom Network to support this community enterprise. The WWF team assists in training of the ICS, supports product marketing activities through exhibitions and works to build the self-regulation capacity of APDS members.

The Heart of Borneo: what is it worth?

2011-01-06

A diverse audience of 55 people gathered in Jakarta from 1-3 December with a view to answer that very important question.

The three-day 'kick-off' workshop, 'The Economics of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to guide Policy, Finance and Private Sector Decision-making in the Heart of Borneo Landscape', was hosted by WWF-Indonesia and included a diverse range of participants across the various sessions.

Development partners (UKG, DFID, FAO, UNDP, UN-REDD) and government agencies (Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Public Works) joined the opening sessions.

Also in attendance were international consulting firms PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Hatfield and Witteveen+Bos, representatives from University of Indonesia and staff from WWF US, Malaysia and Indonesia.

This first day focused on the HoB's approach to building a 'Green Economy' and the important role of ecosystems services in this process. Presentations from HoB Leader Adam Tomasek and Dr Andrew Thurley (PriceWaterhouseCoopers) as well as Anna van Paddenburg (WWF HoB Sustainable Finance Leader) and Nirmal Bhagabati (WWF US, InVEST specialist) provided a broad overview of the key strategic considerations specific to the HoB area.

The subsequent two days saw WWF staff, partners and external experts continue to address links between ecosystem services and a green economy and learn about InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs), a GIS tool which maps out and assesses the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services within any given landscape.

WWF staff from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Jakarta, Kalimantan, Sumatra and Papua also played a crucial role in providing realistic context and extensive expertise to the discussions.

Setting the Scenarios

The workshop brought the HoB and partners closer to developing a range of genuine 'scenarios' which help predict potential future development alternatives. Scenarios aim to present such alternatives as, "how will the landscape look in 30 years if we don't consider ecosystem services in development plans and how will it look if we do?"

It is hoped that these scenarios will assist in drawing a direct link between value of each ecosystem service (such as watershed, carbon stocks, soil and climate) and its impact upon the local economy and livelihoods.

Leading up to the second round of workshops planned for March 2011, the HoB team and other key partners will be working with key decision makers within the government and private sectors, to expand and further create scenarios relevant to their development objectives and resource uses.

It is hoped that the outcomes will be used to pursue spatially explicit, measurable targets which ensure equitable development and maintain nature's valuable biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Why Natural Capital?

The Heart of Borneo Initiative seeks to encourage the development of an economic environment whereby the forests of Borneo are worth more standing than cut down. The tropical rainforests in the Heart of Borneo are rich in natural capital which is of great value to all three Bornean countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei).

To be able to integrate the value of nature, all stakeholders (governments, business and communities) who play a role in the management of this landscape need to better understand the economic value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, its potential for carbon emission reduction and the distribution of ecosystem services to users and beneficiaries.

Sabah government sees REDD in the Heart of Borneo

2011-01-06

The State Government of Sabah (Malaysia) and WWF co-hosted the region's largest conference on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Destruction (REDD) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, in November.

Attended by nearly 500 delegates, the two-day conference: Forest and Climate Change: Decoding and Realizing REDD+ in the Heart of Borneo with special emphasis on Sabah, brought together perspectives and advice on policy, technical and capacity building issues involved in making REDD a reality in the HoB.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Datuk Sam Mannan, Director of Sabah's Forestry Department, said the conference aimed to raise awareness of the role forests played in mitigating climate change and the application of mechanisms such as REDD to add tangible value to forest protection and sustainable development efforts.

WWF to play key support role for Government

A key message to emerge from the conference was that WWF is recognized as the lead organization in Malaysia to help move REDD+ forward at the subnational level in the Sabah portion of the Heart of Borneo.

WWF Malaysia (with support from HoB and Forest Carbon Network Initiatives, WWF-NL, WWF-UK, WWF-NL and other network offices) is now positioned to closely collaborate, and in some aspects take the lead in assisting the Government of Sabah to develop carbon accounting, institutional arrangements, legal & policy frameworks and financing mechanisms.

Speaking after the conference, WWF Malaysia's HoB National Co-ordinator, Ivy Wong, said the Government of Sabah has taken ownership of the HoB and sees it as the platform to deliver the first comprehensive REDD+ Process (the Readiness Phase) within the Borneo state.

"This conference showed that the Heart of Borneo portion of Sabah is a key location for the Malaysian government to implement REDD+ initiatives. As the government moves forward with the planned Carbon Accounting process, it needs to be driven at the sub-national level and then move up to the national level."

Ms Wong, however, noted that it was not just about carbon accounting, monitoring and verification. "It is about valuing the environmental services that the forest brings and establishing the institutional arrangements, legal and policy frameworks and financing mechanisms to make that value tangible and REDD+ a reality," she said.

Local, regional and international experts and partners are now engaged and interested to work on moving REDD+ forward in Sabah. WWF Malaysia and the HoB NI will be supporting the mainstreaming of REDD+ into the national agenda and across different ministries and agencies, with a focus on its relevance to economic development and land-use planning.