The province of Papua has established a Working Group on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Deforestation and Forest and Land Degradation (Pokja REDD) and is currently in the stages of establishing a secretariat, selecting personnel, developing activities and proposing financing for the project. As the focal point of Pokja REDD, the Papua Province Forestry and Environment Service (DKLH) needs the support and cooperation of all of the relevant parties in terms of initiating Pokja's operations, including exchanges of knowledge with other provinces that have undergone similar experiences. As a result, FORCLIME decided to organise a study visit to West Kalimantan for DKLH Papua and related parties in order to explore forestry issues and learn about the working system of the REDD+ Working Group in West Kalimantan.

The visit was held from 22 - 27 November 2021 and saw participation from representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the Papua Province DKLH, the Papua Province Regional Development Planning Agency, the University of Cenderawasih and the Natural Resources Conservation Centers (BBKSDA) in Papua and West Papua. Participants arrived in Pontianak on Sunday, 21 November 2021 and were greeted by the Head of the Environment and Forestry Service (DLHK) for West Kalimantan Province, Ir. H. Adiyani, MH, before a visit to the Equator Monument, which is one of Pontianak’s best-known landmarks.

During the study visit, the participants held discussions with their West Kalimantan partners about the activities being implemented by the REDD+ Working Group, as well as forest management initiatives being run by various parties, including communities, universities, customary forests and forest management units (KPHs). The participants also visited KPH Kubu Raya in Rasau Jaya Village, which was the location of the previous phase of FORCLIME activities. The participants also received information on forest-fire prevention programmes at the site level, including land clearance without burning, the development of productive plantation businesses on peatlands and the practice of making wood acid (a liquid substance that is produced through the precisely controlled pyrolysis of biomass).

‘This study visit has been useful as it supports my work, particularly as it relates to forestry development planning within Papua Province, the establishment of a REDD+ working group and strategies for the protection of the environment and forests and that involve the combining of the livelihoods of local communities living around the forest,’ explained Dr. Estiko Tri Wiradyo, a representative of the Forestry and Environment Service of Papua Province.

During the study visit, participants also visited the Gunung Palung National Park Office in Ketapang and the Alam Sehat Lestari Foundation (ASRI) in Sukadana, where they were addressed by various relevant parties and got to observe firsthand the health and conservation programmes being implemented by ASRI within the Gunung Palung National Park area. A similar programme is set to be implemented by ASRI within Papua. A feasibility study is currently being carried out, supported by FORCLIME, which will gather information on the best location for the implementation of a health and conservation programme within Tanah Papua. This programme will ultimately be developed by ASRI.

For more information, please contact:
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces
Jumtani, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Value Chains, Focal Point Green Climate Fund
Nurdita Rahmadani, Junior Advisor for Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

Created: 29 November 2021

In order to prepare a number of supported villages, FORCLIME, in conjunction with the Forest Management Unit Sorong Selatan (KPH Sorong Selatan), recently identified a number of villages that will be selected as assisted villages during the implementation of joint activities with FORCLIME and the West Papua Provincial Forestry Service.

After a tree-planting ceremony that was held in order to commemorate Indonesian Tree Planting Day, the FORCLIME West Papua Team, including KPH Sorong Selatan, represented by the Head of the Planning Section of the KPH Sorong Selatan, Mr Yermias Thesia, visited several villages in Maybrat Regency on 25 November 2021. These villages comprised Haha in Distrik Seremuk, Sasnek in Distrik Sawiat and Wendi in Distrik Sawiat, which had been visited on a previous occasion. During this visit, the team met and held a discussion with the local community at the house of the Head of the local Forest Farmers Group. The meeting addressed the gathering of information in accordance with a prepared matrix based on four aspects: geophysical conditions, existing institutions in the village, the socio-economic-cultural conditions of the community and existing assistance.

The results of this data collection process will subsequently be submitted to the Head of the West Papua Provincial Forestry Service in order to be used as discussion material during the selection of suitable villages for the implementation of joint activities between FORCLIME and the West Papua Forestry Service.

For more information, please contact:
Melanesia Brigite Boseren, Junior Adviser for Rural Livelihood, Forest Management and Conservation
Nita Yohana, Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for West Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces

Created: 26 November 2021

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) through the Directorate of Planning of Forest Land Use and Establishment of Forest Management Areas (RPPWPH), held a focus group discussion (FGD) on the Draft Macro-Plan for Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation on 10 November 2021. This hybrid event was attended by 31 participants representing the Directorate-General of Nature Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE), the Directorate-General of Forestry Planning and Environmental Management (PKTL) and FORCLIME. The FGD was opened by the Deputy Director of Forest Macro-Planning, Ms Neni Supreni, and was led by Dr Rinekso Soekmadi and Dr Nandi Kosmaryandi, who are experts in macro-planning preparation. The event aimed to gather input from the participants as regards improving the draft macro-plan document, which will be a vital component of MoEF efforts to regulate and facilitate biodiversity conservation efforts across Indonesia.

During his presentation, Dr Rinekso Soekmadi stressed the urgency of putting a macro-plan in place that highlights the importance of protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, and also promoting conservation efforts outside protected areas. In addition, Dr Soekmadi added that as a result of the fact that Indonesia has already ratified many international conventions, a macro-plan should be created that is capable of strengthening the country’s various commitments. Moreover, the macro-plan will also play an important role in the mainstreaming of conservation efforts and the achieving of Indonesia’s SDGs.

A second FGD has been scheduled and will discuss further address the above matters with the aim of finalizing a macro-plan before the end of the year.

For more information, please contact:
R. Rizka Dewi Zuleika, Junior Adviser for Sustainable Forest Management
Mohammad Rayan, Technical Adviser for Cross-Cutting Issues and Conflict Management
Wandojo Siswanto, Strategic Area Manager for Forest Policy and Climate Change

Created: 26 November 2021