Indonesia’s forestry minister recently said that the country would conserve half of their share of Borneo in efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Great words, but are they actually going to do anything to make it happen?
For more information on greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation in Borneo, please visit: http://borneoproject.org/borneo/conserving-our-climate.
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http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-indonesia-borneo-region.html
Indonesia to conserve half of Borneo region
Indonesia’s forestry ministry said Thursday it would conserve nearly half its share of Borneo island, which is covered with dense rainforest, so as to meet a presidential pledge to reduce gas emissions.
Indonesia’s forestry ministry said Thursday it would conserve nearly half its share of Borneo island, which is covered with dense rainforest, so as to meet a presidential pledge to reduce gas emissions.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed a decree authorising conservation of at least 45 percent of its share of Borneo island, officials said, in a nation that is the world’s third-worst emitter of greenhouse gases.
“We hope with the decree, Indonesia will be able to meet its target of reducing gas emissions by 26 percent by 2020,” forestry ministry secretary general Hadi Daryanto told AFP.
“At least 45 percent of Indonesian Borneo will serve as the lungs of the world,” a release by the president’s office said.
Global environment organisations put Indonesia as the world’s third-worst emitter of greenhouse gases. They say emissions are mainly due to deforestation caused by the giant palm oil and paper industries, both rife with corruption.
Daryanto said the areas protected will be bigger than the “Heart of Borneo”, a 2007 agreement signed by Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei to protect 220,000 square kilometres (85,000 square miles) of equatorial rainforest.
Indonesia’s share of Borneo covers about 544,000 square kilometres (210,000 square miles). Its forests are home to some of the world’s most diverse wildlife, but are under threat from mostly illegal plantations and logging.
Indonesia shares Borneo island with Malaysia and Brunei.
(c) 2012 AFP
Hey, this is great. I can leave comments.
Comment by Brihannala — January 24, 2012
Of course this needs to be watched closely to see if there is an attempt to classify oil palm as rainforest and if so we will ring the alarm bell and hope that the global outcry, “Do not destroy the lungs of the Earth!!” is loud and passionate and that integrity and sanity will prevail.
Comment by Paisley — January 25, 2012
Exactly. They have said that they are going to “conserve all of the forest” before, and as far as I can tell, have done nothing to actually take action on that. One wonders why they even bother making these statements any more.
Comment by Brihannala — January 25, 2012