Indonesia to Keep Alive Forest Ban Resisted by Industry
Photo: European Pressphoto Agency
Palembang, Indonesia—Indonesia's president has agreed to extend a ban keeping loggers and the world's largest palm-oil industry from exploiting an area of pristine forests and peat bogs the size of Texas, a presidential adviser said, easing some uncertainty over the future of one of the world's most important experiments to contain greenhouse gases.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received a document to extend the ban earlier this week and was expected to sign it imminently, Agus Purnomo, the president's adviser on climate change, told The Wall Street Journal on Friday. The document called for a two-year extension, but Mr. Purnomo left open the possibility that the president could make changes. The original ban expires May 20.
The presidential seal of approval would keep alive a moratorium imposed two years ago to halt the exploitation of many of Indonesia's forests, some of the most extensive but fastest-disappearing in the world. It's one of the biggest such efforts to conserve forests that are a storehouse of carbon.
Stakeholders meet towards Sustainable Peatland Management
As a follow up of International Indonesia Peatland Conversation (IIPC), ICCC has organized a series of Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on 22-25 April 2013. The topics of those FGDs are Incentives and Disincentives in Peatland, Green House Gas (GHG) Inventory in Peatland, Spatial Planning in Peatland, and One Map Initiative of Peatland. Keynote Speakers from Ministries, Agencies and Universities have contributed in sharing up to date information based on their experiences on the topics mentioned above. Participants from Ministries, Agencies, Universities, NGOs, and International NGOs have contributed their idea and comments which resulted positive inputs for the next step activities towards Sustainable Peatland Management.
ICCC Participates at Climate Change Expo
Farhan Helmy, ICCC's Oversight Committee member, shows Peatland Definition Policy Memo to Minister of Environment, Balthasar Kambuaya and DNPI's executive chair, Rachmat Witoelar at the expo. (Photo: ICCC)
ICCC joins the band wagon to contribute building science-based generations and raising climate change awareness to Indonesia's public. The 3rd Indonesia Climate Change Education Forum & Expo (ICCEFE 2013) is a mean of information and communication to bring forward the strategic issues of the climate change among students, in undertaking the education of the climate change adaptation and mitigation, which based on the proper science.
Minister of Environment, Balthasar Kambuaya officially opens ICCEFE 2013 at Assembly Hall, Jakarta Convention Center (JCC). The event offers seminar on Regional Updates on Climate Change, private sector best practices, interactive talk show, etc. The event is attended by diverse ministries and institutions, such as LIPI, BMKG, BNPB, LAPAN and few sub national governments.
ICCEFE 2013 opens for public, sporting a message of 'Working Together, Saving Tomorrow Today'. The event is held from April 18-21, 2013.
Geothermal Plant Gets Go-Ahead
Photo: aecom.com
Twenty years after the plans were first drawn up, construction is set to soon commence in North Sumatra on the $1.5 billion Sarulla Geothermal Power Project, the largest of its type in the world, following a deal reached by key players in the energy sector in Jakarta on Thursday.
State-controlled utility Perusahaan Listrik Negara signed a deal with Pertamina Geothermal Energy, a subsidiary of state-controlled energy company Pertamina, and a consortium led by private-equity controlled Medco Power.
The facility will have the capacity of 330 megawatts, making it the world’s largest geothermal generator.
The facility will be built in three stages, and is expected to be fully operational in 2018. The project will be financed by several banks, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the Asian Development Bank.
Minister of Forestry Agrees Continuing Moratorium
Photo: ANTARA/Reno Esnir/rj
Minister of Forestry, Zulkifli Hasan, ensures the continuity of Forest Moratorium. But, the moratorium which will end May 2013 is still waiting President's call.
"We will continue the (forest) moratorium, but is waiting President's call. In principle, I agree to continue," Zulkifli Hasan stated to the press after opening the fifth IndoGreen Forestry Expo at Assembly Hall, Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Thursday (14/4).
