Sunday 31 January 2010

Indigenous people get ‘20%’ REDD money

PERSONAL NOTE

A MORE REALISTIC FIGURE WOULD PROBABLY BE
2% OR LESS.

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Indigenous people get ‘20%’ REDD money


Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post | Fri, 01/29/2010


At least 20 percent of revenue from the forest carbon scheme should be transferred to indigenous people who play crucial roles in protecting the forest to avoid emission leakages, a minister said.


State Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said that much revenue from the carbon trade was needed to ensure the sustainability of emission reduction in tackling climate change.


“Giving indigenous people a fair share also acknowledges their rights,” Gusti said.

He said the government could not leave the indigenous people behind in projects relating to the forest as they were at the forefront of environmental preservation.

Gusti said that indigenous people had great knowledge about how to protect the forest.


“The traditional people have long been conscious of the environment. It is important to include them in reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation [REDD] projects,” he added.


REDD was expected to be an alternative to emission cuts from forests, which contributed about 20 percent to global emissions.


Under the scheme, countries that protect their forests can receive financial incentives through the carbon trade from rich nations.


However, debates on land and forest rights have been a hot topic at both national and international levels, mainly concerning efforts to mitigate global warming.

Activists said the unclear status of indigenous people and tribal communities managing forests would hamper the implementation of REDD programs.


The State Ministry for the Environment signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alliance of Archipelagic Indigenous People (AMAN) on environmental protection on Wednesday.


Gusti also inaugurated 35 indigenous people, also AMAN members, as the country’s ambassadors in protecting the environment.


AMAN secretary-general Abdon Nababan welcomed Gusti’s statement. “But our main concern is not on the percentage of revenue. We want the government to acknowledge the rights of indigenous people,” Abdon told The Jakarta Post.

There are currently 1,163 tribal communities in AMAN.


AMAN claimed that of Indonesia’s 210 million population, between 50 million and 70 million were part of customary communities earning their livelihood from forests.

Abdon said that the government continued to ignore communal rights by allowing natural resources of customary land and forests to be exploited.


Gusti said that about 20 percent of money from REDD projects should also be allocated to local administrations that controlled the forests.


“The remaining expected revenue from forest carbon trade will be for investors.

“Ten percent will go to the central government,” he said. The REDD scheme was expected to take effect in 2013


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/29/indigenous-people-get-%E2%80%9820%E2%80%99-redd-money.html




Saturday 30 January 2010

Another orangutan victim and close to death

Why not say hello to Nen? Sadly, desperately so, you may never see her again. Chained, starved - just look at how thin she is and partially paralysed.

We want to rescue and nurse Neng but the nearest rescue centre is already full of PALM OIL victims.

Neng will surely die if we cannot rescue her very soon.

Orangutan receiving urgent treatment


Location: Sentarum Lake - West Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The orangutan is Neng, a 5 year old female.

She suffers from paralysis after years of being chained

up. COP team member Seto can be seen here administering basic first aid

to Neng whilst she awaits a space at a rescue centre.

Close encounters with Indonesia's orangutans


Video. May be only possible for UK based people to watch, but why not give it a try!

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Close encounters with Indonesia's orangutans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8487982.stm




Friday 29 January 2010

WAITROSE SUPERMARKETS


PERSONAL NOTE
At least we see one company working towards a more realistic date of 2012.
Most quote 2015 - though none can explain why 2015 and not 12,13,14!
Last year companies only bought 20% of the available sustainable palm oil on the market.

LETTER BELOW RECEIVED BY A SUPPORTER
FROM WAITROSE SUPERMARKETS
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Thank you for your e-mail.

As a responsible retailer, Waitrose constantly aims to minimise the impact of its operations on the environment and we are keen to see the wide scale implementation of a robust and auditable traceability system for palm oil.

In light of our concerns about the sustainability of palm oil, Waitrose joined the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a global forum that encourages sustainable palm oil production and use, in January 2006 and first put in place a Sustainable Palm Oil Policy and sourcing guidelines for own label suppliers in February 2006. We firmly believe that the work of the RSPO is essential for ensuring that the production and use of palm oil is carried out in a sustainable manner based on economic, social and environmental viability.

Waitrose is committed to the organisation's objectives, and actively contribute to the development of UK markets for sustainable palm oil through the British Retail Consortium Palm Oil Committee.

Waitrose is committed to using only Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) in its own label products by the end of 2012, with an interim target of a quarter of this conversion set for year end 2010.

Currently, around 1,000 Waitrose own label products include very low levels of palm oil (between 0.001 and 4 per cent). As an interim measure, Waitrose will be using Greenpalm, a certificate trading programme for palm oil which is endorsed by the RSPO, while it works through converting its entire range to CSPO.

It is our strict policy to individually name 'palm oil' in our ingredients lists so that our customers can easily identify which of our own label products contain palm oil. For branded products the labelling of ingredients is the responsibility of the brand manufacturers. However, we are committed to sharing best practice and we encourage branded suppliers to apply the same principles and policies as Waitrose. A number of branded manufacturers are members of the RSPO.

For more information about responsible sourcing of palm oil, visit the RSPO website at www.rspo.org and www.greenpalm.org.

Regards,

Tom Leech

Waitrose Customer Service.


Biofuel requirements for cars may help destroy the rainforest, watchdog says


Biofuel requirements for cars may help destroy the rainforest, watchdog says

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/biofuels/7099252/Biofuel-requirements-for-cars-may-help-destroy-the-rainforest-watchdog-says.html