Govt to use Norwegian aid to save peatland forests

Govt to use Norwegian aid to save peatland forests

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 00:16 WIB Environment Jakarta (ANTARA News) -

The government plans to direct climate change aid committment from Norway worth US$1 billion for saving peatland forests in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua, Gusti M Hatta said.

"We will direct it for saving peatland forests and it will be discussed with governors. We are made more optimistic by the aid," the environment minister said here on Monday.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono plans to go to Oslo, Norway on May 27 to attend an international conference on climate change and forests to be attended by representatives from dozens of countries.

Along with Norway prime minister, Jens Stoltenberg, the Indonesian president would lead the conference which would discuss mechanism for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD) in developing countries.

The conference is aimed at facilitating voluntary partnership between advanced countries and developing countries that have tropical forests with regard to implementing the REDD with a total committment worth US$3.5 billion.

Besides discussing further the Copenhagen meeting that pledged US$3.5 billion for developing countries for 2010 to 2011, Indonesia would also sign a letter of intent with Norway for US$1 billion in climate change funding.

"So far many have already committed to extending climate change funds such as from the US, Japan, Australia, Britain, France and Germany but none of it has been realized," he said.

He said his side had already sought confirmation about it from Australia hoping the aid could be enjoyed by people living around the forests up to 50 percent while only 10 percent would go to the central government and the rest to regions possessing forests.

Regarding the new executive secretary for UN Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC), Christiana Figueres, replacing Yvo de Boer, the minister`s expert staff, Liana Bratasida, said that she is quite good.

"Christiana is from Costa Rica and an environment figure from a developing country in Latin America and therefore will understand fully what the developing countries will need," she said.(*)
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