VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy has said that the realization of gender equality could help raise global GDP (gross domestic product) by around 26 percent.

"In contrast, failure in realizing gender equality by the next six years could potentially cause Indonesia to lose US$135 billion in annual GDP," he remarked at the 2020 Anugerah Parahita Ekapraya (APE) Awards, held online on Wednesday.

Therefore, the improvement in gender equality is closely related to the acceleration of development, the minister said. For that reason, the role of governments, both central and local, is essential for accelerating equal development for women and men by implementing gender mainstreaming strategies (PUG), he added.

Effendy then praised Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga, and her ministry for holding the 2020 Anugerah Parahita Ekapraya (APE) Awards.

"I would love to congratulate the ministries, institutions, and regional governments who have received the 2020 APE awards, both in the mentor, main, intermediate, and primary categories."

"I urge the Ministries, Institutions, and regional heads to truly implement PUG in the drafting process and the implementation of their policies. Let us work hand in hand to improve gender-responsive development," the minister said.

At the 2020 Anugerah Parahita Ekapraya (APE) Awards, the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection awarded 13 ministries and institutions, 29 provinces, and 266 districts and cities for their efforts to implement gender mainstreaming strategies in their institutions or regions.

The awards were part of a series of activities for the 4th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women (AMMW), which Indonesia is hosting. (Antaranews)

Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar has said that the Indonesian Government will accelerate mangrove rehabilitation to recover around 600 thousand hectares of mangrove land by 2024.

"There has been a lot of experience from the late 1990s, 2003, and so on, regarding how to transform ponds--whether salt ponds or shrimp ponds and others--to mangrove ecosystems,” she said after the launch of the 2021 National Mangrove Map here on Wednesday.

According to the minister, mangroves have now become a global issue.

As one of the countries with the largest mangrove ecosystems in the world, Indonesia is paying close attention to mangrove issues, which is being realized through President Joko Widodo's policy of establishing the Peatland and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM) to accelerate rehabilitation, she said.

According to the latest data from the National Mangrove Map, there are 3,364,080 hectares of mangroves in Indonesia, which reflects an increase of 52,873 hectares from 3,311,207 hectares in 2013-2019.

In the 3,364,080 hectares of mangrove land, there are variations in the canopy classification from good to sparse.

Regarding mangrove lands with sparse canopy to damaged canopy, the government is targeting to recover around 600 thousand hectares by 2024, the minister said.

“There are many ways (for the acceleration). From the government side, there are state budget and regional budget. There are also the supports from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and SOEs (state-owned enterprises) as well as the outstanding initiatives from the community, for example, tree adoption,” she said.

In addition, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has also asked permit holders to rehabilitate mangroves in their area, she added. (Antaranews)

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry held the International Heritage of Toba: Natural & Cultural Diversity Conference in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, on Wednesday as part of activities for showcasing Indonesia's five super-priority tourism destinations (DPSP).

"This theme was chosen based on the extraordinary potential of Lake Toba in its nature and culture," Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno said at the virtual conference here on Wednesday.

Furthermore, Lake Toba has also been recognized as a Global Geopark by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to maintain the sustainability of the region, he noted.

The international conference was organized in Lake Toba to convince stakeholders and unite the vision of collaborating, maintaining, and preserving the world's assets, he added.

The effort is expected to give a positive boost to the economy, environment, and welfare of the community, Uno said.

"Let's continue the spirit with 3G, which is to move quickly, move together, and develop all the potential to create jobs," he remarked.

He pointed out the potential of Lake Toba as a super-priority destination, which is on target, on time, and provides the right benefits.

In June 2021, a similar activity was held in Borobudur, Central Java, he said. The ministry will hold a similar conference in Mandalika, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) in November 2021, he informed.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Tourism Products and Event Organizer at the ministry Rizki Handayani said the development of MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, Exhibition) activities held outdoors or around Lake Toba was part of the ministry's innovations.

With the Lake Toba conference, Handayani said, the ministry intends to deliver the message that meetings do not have to be indoors.

"This is also what we will propose at the (Indonesia G20 Presidency) meeting: that conferences do not have to be indoors, they are even healthier outdoors," Handayani remarked. (Antaranews)

Indonesian non-timber forest products (NTFPs), processed wood products, and products made by communities living around forests will be promoted by the Environment and Forestry Ministry at the 2020 Dubai Expo, an official has said.

"The ministry’s participation at the expo aims to show Indonesia's achievements and progress in industry, technology, environment and forestry sectors," Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong said in a statement received here on Tuesday.

Indonesia has a comparative advantage of raw material productivity compared to other countries, which can create a huge export potential, he said.

Furthermore, Indonesia owns at least 565 potential NTFPs to be developed and utilized, he said. Moreover, utilization of the products will reduce the number of trees cut, he said.

Some of the NTFPs -- rattan, benzoin resin, and honey -- will be displayed at the Indonesia Pavilion at the expo, he informed.

Currently, the fashion industry has a great interest in woven rattan, especially the one from Kalimantan Island, Dohong noted.

Likewise, benzoin resin -- which has been used to add scent in incense for centuries -- is currently used to make world-class perfumes with a fragrant and soft aroma, he said.

Although they do not contain alcohol, such perfumes can last up to 16-24 hours, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, one of the processed wood products that will feature at the expo is a wooden radio made from pine, mahogany, and rosewood -- as trees can produce good sound resonance, the official said.

Thanks to their antique design, the radios, which have been manufactured in Temanggung district, Central Java province, have managed to enter the international market and win various international awards, he noted.

Another product—Lepironia articulata straw—can serve as an alternative to the utilization of plastic that has become a global problem, Dohong said.

The products have been made by a micro, small, and medium enterprise in Bangka Belitung Islands province, he informed.

However, the straws are disposable and cannot be washed like bamboo straws, he said adding, still, they are environmentally friendly as they decompose in just one week.

Meanwhile, walnuts from communities living around the forests on Makian Island, North Maluku, which have made a huge contribution to the Indonesian economy in the forestry sector, will also be featured at the expo, he said.

In addition, there will be several kinds of coffees, including the Liberika coffee grown on peatland which has a unique sour taste and the scent of jackfruit, at the expo, too, he added.  (Antaranews)