News in Brief

“If it weren’t for the benefits that our forests provide, then our way of life, our people, our economy, our environment and our society would be so much poorer,” he said. “Our success in managing our forests will determine our future and the opportunities that will be available to our children.”

Attended by members of Indonesia’s government, the business community, civil society and foreign donors, the 1000 participants discussed the future of the third-largest tropical forest area in the world. Specifically, in his speech, the president reiterated a 2009 pledge to cut Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions by up to 41 percent from business-as-usual levels by 2020 – a vow only achievable if the forests are safeguarded.

As part of his push to safeguard the forests, President Yudhoyono called on Indonesia’s captains of industry to adopt more sustainable forests management practices. “I call upon our business leaders, particularly those in the palm oil, pulp wood and mining sectors, to partner with us by enhancing the environmental sustainability of their operations,” the President said. “I ask you to join me in pledging to safeguard this national treasure for the sake of our children.”

Relevant and interesting CIFOR blogs:
• ‘Green treasures’ could fuel a new economic sector, says Indonesian President:  http://blog.cifor.org/4295/%E2%80%98green-treasures%E2%80%99-could-fuel-a-new-economic-sector-says-indonesian-president/

• Norwegian Environment Minister reassures Indonesia that forest conservation is ‘good for business’: http://blog.cifor.org/4326/norwegian-environment-minister-reassures-indonesia-that-forest-conservation-%E2%80%9Cgood-for-business%E2%80%9D/

Over two decades WWF’s efforts to eliminate illegal logging, including in the Heart of Borneo, has seen significant results. To date the GFTN boasts 272 companies from over 30 countries. Collectively, participants manage 21.5 million hectares of FSC certified forests and trade and estimated 18 per cent of the global support of forest products by value.

Now, the network will increasingly work with emerging markets, expand to key partners who can leverage transformation throughout their regions and complete supply chains. It will also promote efficiency in practices, encourage recycling to reduce demand and engage on key policy initiatives to close the illegal market.

The National Universities of Indonesia (UNAS), Malaysia and the Sabah University in collaboration with their respective governments and WWF, recently held an international workshop focusing on development issues in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Brunei Border Area of the Heart of Borneo (HoB).

Vice Rector for UNAS Research and Community Service Department, Ernawati Sinaga, said the workshop was held to discuss inequalities in the development process, particularly with respect to developing countries.

Ernawati maintains that the current development process puts economic indicators first, with social, culture, and environmental indicators not being used as references in development studies and policy formulas. He said each country of the three Bornean countries needed to contribute to the preservation and conservation of the HoB area.

“This workshop mainly concentrated on the border areas, searching for the correct model based on environment or nature conservation in these areas,” said Ernawati. “As academics, we need, and have obligation to, save the future of the nation.”

The workshop was attended by dozens of experts and researchers from the three universities and two countries, and it is hoped it will be the beginning of even closer collaboration on the HoB, between the three countries.

“UMS is very excited to work with WWF-Malaysia and we believe that through this collaboration, we can complement each other in terms of expertise, skills and resources,” said Dr. Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Director of ITBC (Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation), UMS.

The Liwagu sub-catchment in Tambunan has been a WWF-Malaysia’s project area since January 2010. It is fully funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd and focuses on sustainable management of freshwater resources and water catchment. Its core targets are to improve the protection and sustainable management of freshwater resources, enhance management, conservation and restoration of wildlife in the area as well as to enhance the capacity and participation of local communities in catchment and natural resources management.

WWF- Malaysia’s National Heart of Borneo (HoB) coordinator and Sarawak Programme and Forest Conservation Programme senior manager, Ivy Wong, said it was to raise awareness of the urban public on the unique products and culture of the highland communities.

"The event brings together, a number of community-based organisations such as the Rurum Lun Bawang Association and Persatuan Masyarakat Adat Dataran Tinggi Sarawak and Sabah (FORMADAT Sarawak and Sabah)," she said.

By supporting the local communities and through such initiatives WWF Malaysia hoped to promote local products from conservation landscapes, as well as help local communities to preserve the forest and environment.

The two-day event was also part of WWF-Malaysia's community programme within the HoB which aimed to increase the livelihood of the local communities through developing sustainable small-scale agricultural products, she said.

Penghulu (grassroot community leader) for Ba kelalan, George Sigar Selutan said the unique Adan rice was a local rice variety from the Highlands of Borneo, which was cultivated according to traditional practices by the Lun Bawang in Ba kelalan and Long Semadoh, the Kelabit in Bario and the Lun Dayeh in Long Pasia (Sabah).

The rice is cultivated through traditional methods, paying special attention on how it could affect the surrounding environment, said Sigar, who is also Customary Leader for FORMADAT Sarawak and Sabah.

"Beras Adan has the finest grain and taste due to the elevation and the clear, unpolluted waters which irrigate the rice fields," he said.

The event featured a display and sampling of Adan rice dishes prepared in traditional ways by Rurum Lun Bawang Association for the first 100 visitors.

Aired once a week at prime time it combines the topics of environment, culture, eco tourism, conservation and local government. The Heart of Borneo project has been earmarked as a focus of discussion.

“Being the main entertainment and apart from newspapers the only other form of communication in village areas, it is an effective way to reach out to the community on issues important to their livelihoods and immediate environment,” says Edna Saja, programmer for the radio show.

She hopes the program will encourage contribution and participation in efforts to learn about and protect the environment. “At the moment people don’t know how to get involved or align themselves with the Heart of Borneo objectives,” Saja says.

The district government which airs the show is very supportive of the HoB project. Saja hopes discussing the HoB initiatives in the field will raise awareness in community and government circles. “We will expose HoB activities like workshops and the results of meetings to people in Kutai Barat,” says Saja.

Providing monetary support for the radio show and other important initiatives such as eco tourism, community based forest development and renewable energy in micro hydro, the local government is supporting a culture of environmental awareness in the region.

“Radio is about discussion,” says Saja. “We hope WWF, the district government and the community will sit together and talk about the issues so that we can create good solutions for important issues.”

Participants from the Sintang, Melawi and Kapuas Hulu District, the Plantation Agency, local NGOs, oil palm smallholders, local bank representatives and palm oil companies from the three districts were all present at the event held collaboratively by WWF Indonesia and the Sintang, Melawi and Kapuas Hulu District governments.

The workshop delivered important information to all workshop participants. Notably, it was emphasised that in the management of oil palm plantations there are several Best Management Practices that can be repaired to boost positive environmental (High Conservation Value, Environmental Impact Assessment and Peatland Management) and social/cultural outcomes.