JAKARTA - At the end of 2015, WWF Indonesia provided notes on the progress and challenges in the field of Environment and Forestry (LHK), especially those related to biodiversity conservation efforts. WWF Indonesia highlighted several steps that are considered to be important pillars in solving environmental and forestry problems.

As a year-end reflection of 2015 on the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF), Nyoman Iswarayoga, Director of Communication & Advocacy of WWF Indonesia, said, "We observe there are progressive steps that have been taken by MoEF throughout 2015 as a basis for improving environmental and forestry governance. Of course there are things that have not gone as expected, and many problems are still worrying in preserving Indonesia's nature."

Forest and land fires (karhutla), which have been in the spotlight for most of this year, are evidence of weak governance. KLHK is trying to organize it, one example is the instruction issued by the Minister of Environment and Forestry to concessionaires containing a ban on peat clearing. Including the cessation of granting new licenses in primary forests and peatlands for plantation management companies.

In addition, the Minister of Environment and Forestry has also emphasized the importance of high conservation value (HCV) areas to the Minister of Agrarian Affairs and Spatial Planning (ATR), which later became one of the bases for the issuance of the Circular Letter of the Minister of ATR for the protection of HCV areas. The test is in the compliance of its implementation which will make policies like this truly effective.

Furthermore, according to Nyoman, WWF Indonesia also highlighted the firmness of KLHK in socializing and implementing the Indonesian timber legality system through SVLK (Timber Legality Verification System). Regardless of the differences in discourse on the absolute necessity of SVLK as one of the requirements for export documents, KLHK continues to encourage SVLK to be recognized as a FLEGT permit (Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade) which will increase legal timber trade in the world market. This should be supported by other Ministries in a harmonized and integrated manner.

Meanwhile Prof. Hadi Alikodra, Chief Advisor of WWF Indonesia voiced that KLHK is able to strengthen its role as the foremost and strongest fortress in saving Indonesia's remaining tropical forests. Especially by increasing the effectiveness of protection and management of conservation areas, so that in addition to being free from the threat of encroachment, it also provides benefits to the surrounding community.

According to Prof. Alikodra, although the merger of the former two Ministries, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forestry, has been quite successful so far, the MoEF still also faces harmonization challenges at the operational level.

WWF Indonesia also still recorded the death of wildlife protected by law, such as Sumatran Elephants, and various cases of wildlife crime throughout 2015. The MoEF has responded adequately on several occasions, but these cases are a symptom of ineffective supervision.

The public hopes that KLHK will firmly bring anyone who is indicated and suspected of practicing environmental crimes, especially in cases of forest and land fires and crimes against wildlife. In particular, ensuring that perpetrators of environmental crimes can get punishment that prevents the recurrence of similar cases in the coming year.

KLHK is encouraged not to be half-hearted in promoting transparency in investigating cases of environmental crimes. One of them is to consistently bring concession-holding companies to the legal table for land and forest fires in their area, in accordance with the responsibilities contained in their licenses.

Nyoman further reminded homework that needs to be consistently done in 2016. He continued, "For KLHK to continuously oversee coordination for land and forest fire mitigation efforts. Activities in the field such as re-wetting peatlands, intensifying fire awareness communities and community partners of forest rangers and law enforcement efforts must be carried out consistently." "We also have homework to start implementing activities that are part of Indonesia's commitment in INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions - ed) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as agreed in COP 21 in Paris," Nyoman concluded.

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Ifurther information:

Nyoman Iswarayoga, Director of Communication & Advocacy - WWF Indonesia
E: niswarayoga@wwf.or.id T: 0811 1284 868