The German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development held an international conference entitled “Forests for Future Generations” on 11 and 12 June 2013 in Berlin. The objectives of the conference were fourfold:
1.    Promoting sustainable forest management in the tropics with its three dimensions of economic, social and ecological viability;
2.    Scaling up sustainable and legal wood products;
3.    Exploring options for alliances between public and private sector, and civil society;
4.    Increasing awareness among procurers and consumers that avoiding tropical timber is not the way to save tropical forests.

The conference was attended by more than 160 high-ranking decision makers from governments, civil society, private sector and universities. From Indonesia, Dr. Yetti Rusli, Ir. Helmi Basalamah and Pak Andi Daryanto, all from the Ministry of Forestry, Pak Agus Setyarso (SEKNAS-KPH) and Prof. Soeyitno Soedirman (University of Mulawarman) attended the conference. The delegation was accompanied by FORCLIME’s Programme Director, Mr. Rolf Krezdorn.

Mr. Dirk Niebel, Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, welcomed the participants at the conference in his opening speech. For Indonesia, Dr. Yetti Rusli delivered a keynote speech entitled “Public and Private Responsibility for Sustainability” on behalf of Dr. Hadi Daryanto, Secretary General of the Ministry of Forestry.

Further information on the conference and presentations given during various sessions can be found on BMZ’s website

Created: 23 July 2013

With the intention to extend the understanding on biochar application, FORCLIME together with its partners from East and West Kalimantan visited the experimental station of the Soil Research Department of the Center of Agricultural Research and Development of East Lampung. The purpose of the visit was to see potential benefits of biochar for improving land productivity and carbon sequestration. Participants visited and studied the biochar facility from the application to agricultural land and management of plantations and forestry, and the possibility for application at an operational scale.

The group of seven visitors was composed of members of the Soil Lab of Mulawarman University in East Kalimantan, the Plantation Service of East Kalimantan, the Forest Management Unit (FMU) of West Berau (East Kalimantan), the FMU of Kapuas Hulu (West Kalimatan), and GIZ FORCLIME advisors.

The participants obtained comprehensive information and knowledge about various aspects of biochar, such as production techniques, application in various sectors of land use, carbon sequestration, and bioenergy that may be obtained from the application of biochar.
Currently FORCLIME initiates cooperation with the Faculty of Forestry, University of Mulawarman to study the potential application of biochar to mitigate the effects of climate change. The cooperation includes capacity building, research and publications.

Biochar is charcoal produced from burning biomass through the process of thermochemical decomposition of organic material at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen (Pyrolysis). The use of biological charcoal (Biochar) is considered a breakthrough that can contribute to emission reduction, carbon storage, and soil improvement.

Further information, please contact:
Tunggul Butarbutar, Strategic Area Manager for FMU Development

Created: 19 July 2013

The District Project Management Unit (DPMU) of FORCLIME in Malinau held a two week training on Sustainable Livelihood Assessment (SLA) in June 2013. The Training was for 15 village facilitators from Bahau Hulu and Pujungan sub-districts and DPMU staffn and had two parts; class sessions took place at the Malinau City Hotel and field sessions in the three villages Long Bila, Long Kenipe and Sentaban. The Head of the District Forestry Service opened the workshop and expected that all participants will improve and practice their facilitation skills, however, not only to support FORCLIME but also for their village development activities.

Two experienced trainers from the Farmers’ Initiative for Ecological Livelihood and Democracy (FIELD) Indonesia based in Jakarta brought fun and attractive training atmosphere to the training. The first three days, the participant got basic information about the FORCLIME FC programme delivered by representatives of the FORCLIME National Project Management Unit (NPMU) and topics on how to raise self-confidence and communication skills. The next part was more related to what data should be collected in each village such as water cycle, village ecosystem, ground check (village sketch), seasonal calender, trend analysis, institutional analysis, gender and future plans. The whole material was linked to each other aimig at the “big picture” on potentials and challenges of the villages. Futhermore, this data will be use as a base line develop Demonstration Activities (DA) proposals related to quick and long-term investments on REDD+.

For more info, please contact:

Indah Astuti, Expert on Community Participatory and Governance - DPMU

Karlina Kartika, Adviser for Community Based Forest Management – TC Module

Created: 12 July 2013