VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said that successful climate management in Indonesia can be realized by combining economic and social aspects of forest management.



"Sustainable forest management policies must combine environmental with economic and social considerations. Partnerships with communities are also prioritized," the President said while speaking during the World Leaders Summit on Action on Forests and Land Use in Glasgow, Scotland, on Tuesday.



The social forestry program was created so that forest conservation went hand in hand with supporting the livelihoods of the surrounding community, he added.


This is important given 34 percent of all villages in Indonesia are located on the border or in forest areas, he pointed out.



"Millions of Indonesian people depend on the forestry sector for their livelihood. To deny this is not only unrealistic but also unsustainable," said the President.



According to Widodo, 90 percent of the world's population living in extreme poverty relies on forests for a living. To use the issue of climate change as a trade barrier is a huge mistake, he said.

"This will erode trust in international cooperation to overcome climate change, and even hinder sustainable development, which is sorely needed," the President remarked.



He deemed forest management that takes sustainable development into account as the only viable option. He also said that Indonesia is ready to share its experiences and knowledge on the subject.



"Let's manage forests (in a way) that are 'pro-environment', 'pro-development', and 'people-centered'. This is the main goal of the 'Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade Dialogue' or 'FACT Dialogue' which is co-chaired by Indonesia and the UK. (It is so that) forests (can) be a sustainable solution for global climate action," Widodo added.



Speaking at the COP26 World Leaders Summit, the President announced that Indonesia's forestry and land sector would achieve a "Net Carbon Sink" by 2030. Such is Indonesia's commitment to be part of the solution to climate change, he said.



"Indonesia's tangible/real achievements in the forestry sector are undeniable. In 2020, the rate of forest fires was minimized by 82 percent," he revealed.



Indonesia also managed to reduce emissions from forests and land use by 40.9 percent in 2019 compared to 2015, he said. Indonesia's deforestation rate also reached its lowest level in the past 20 years, he added.



"This was done when the world last year lost 12 percent more primary forests than the previous year and when many developed countries experienced the biggest forest and land fires in history," the President said.



Only two people received a special invitation to speak from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the meeting: the President of Colombia and the President of the Republic of Indonesia. Johnson also spoke at the meeting.



The President's entourage for the event included Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar. (Antaranews)