Jakarta – Today, 12 June 2012, Indonesian natural forest concession companies that have high commitment to manage their forest by implementing FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) scheme meet with representatives from international importer in Jakarta. FSC scheme is a well managed forest scheme that emphasizes on three main things: ecology, environment and social.

In Indonesia, SVLK (Timber Legality Verification System) has been implemented since year 2009 to assure that all traded Indonesian timber products in the market hold responsible legality status. Hence, it will increase the Indonesian timber product credibility among consumer worldwide and to add up bargaining position for timber producers. By synchronizing SVLK system and FSC scheme, it is expected that Indonesian legal timber trade acceleration are well accepted in market. The Borneo Initiative (TBI) together with WWF-Indonesia hold business meeting between forest concessionaires that has implemented SVLK/ FSC with international timber buyer.

“FSC certificate gives guarantee toward sustainable forest management which pays attention on environment preservation and social aspect. We give appreciation to companies achieving FSC certificate. This will gains trust to Indonesian forest management,” said WWF-Indonesia Conservation Director Nazir Foead. This business meeting is anticipated to boost motivation for SVLK/ FSC certificate attainment among Indonesian forest concessions and timber industries. Furthermore, it will create new business network between Indonesian and Dutch companies.

“We are proud to take part in forest certification achievement efforts in Indonesia. Before, it was only 1.1 million Ha of FSC certified forest, or 2% from total Indonesian production forest. However, since year 2009, The Borneo Initiative facilitates 26 companies with total 2.6 million Ha toward FSC certification. From those numbers, six concessions hold FSC certificate, followed by three other concessions this year,” explained The Borneo Initiative Board Member Jesse Kuijper. “Now that FSC certificate traction in Indonesia, it is the time to support those timber companies to develop market link that appreciate FSC timber products.

According to Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI), there are around 100 unit of natural forest management that still own operation permit which equal to 23 million Ha. Therefore, the Indonesian forest opportunity to be managed sustainably is enormous. The Borneo Initiative (TBI) focuses to build partnership with companies in Kalimantan. Until January 2012, TBI has facilitates 26 APHI members of company with total area of 3 million Ha. From those 26 companies, 5 has achieved SVLK/ FSC certificate: PT. Suka Jaya Makmur, PT. Narkata Timber (41,540 Ha), PT Sarpatim (216,550 Ha), PT Belayan River Timber (97,500 Ha) and PT Rodamas Timber (69,230 Ha).

WWF-Indonesia as conservation organization is also facilitates natural forest concession companies through Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN) program. The high committed natural forest concession managed their forest by implementing Best Management Practice (BMP). Together with GFTN in preserving the forest by paying attention to conservation aspect for species and social/ forest dependent community preservation. With this similar vision to TBI, the business meeting hold today.

Related to the above achievement, Head of National Heart of Borneo/ HoB Working Group Dr. Andi Novianto said,”HoB Working Group embracing the joining of five concessions in The Borneo Initiative membership. Three of them are operated in HoB area. FSC scheme which in line with SVLK is one effort to support HoB initiative through sustainable forest management mechanism”, added Dr. Andi Novianto.

Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) certification with FSC scheme and SVLK is a first step to responsible trade which become one strategic element for Best Management Practice and the attainment of sustainable forest that can be accepted among worldwide companies and business.
***
Note for Editor:
The Borneo Initiative
The Borneo Initiative is a non-profit organization based in Netherland, and dedicated to slowing down degradation rate and deforestation in tropical area, with focus in Borneo. By having two offices in Netherland and Jakarta, the facilitation focuses on forest concession that managed natural forest through sustainable forest management in line with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) principle and criteria. (www.theborneoinitiative.org)

Heart of Borneo
Heart of Borneo is three countries initiative: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia based on conservation and sustainable development for high land tropical forest in Borneo. HoB Initiative vision is to keep and conserve sustainability in the remaining Borneo forest, for today and future generation welfare. Heart of Kalimantan or Jantung Kalimantan is the Indonesian part of HoB. In 12 January 2007, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia governments declared commitment to preserve and manage HoB area sustainably. The area involve around 23 million Ha of forest connected ecologically among the three countries. (www.heartofborneo.or.id)

WWF-Indonesia
WWF-Indonesia is an independent part of WWF’s network and its affiliations and is a global conservation organization that works in 100 countries in the world. WWF-Indonesia vision is Indonesia’s biodiversity for the welfare of today and future generation. WWF-Indonesia mission includes: promotion of strong conservation ethics; awareness as well as action among Indonesian people; facilitation as multi stakeholders to protect biodiversity and ecological process in eco-regional scale; to advocate policy, regulation and law enforcement that support conservation; and conservation promotion for people’s welfare through sustainable natural resources. (www.wwf.or.id)

Global Forest & Trade Network (GFTN)
GFTN-Indonesia is one of the WWF’s initiatives to eliminate illegal logging and to support forest management improvement by facilitating trade network between committed companies in achieving and supporting responsible forestry. GFTN highly valued the independent and multi stakeholders based forest certification as important tool in driving forest management and responsible timber products trade in entire supply chain. GFTN-Indonesia currently has 38 company members (12 HPH / HTI and 26 trade industries) (www.wwf.or.id/gftn)

For further question and information, please contact:

1. Rizal Bukhari, Direktur The Borneo Initiative Indonesia, bukhari@theborneoinitiative.org, +62 815 1433 9591
2. Aditya Bayunanda, Koordinator GFTN-Indonesia, WWF-Indonesia abayunanda@wwf.or.id +62818265588
3. Dita Ramadhani, Responsible Trade and Networking Coordinator, WWF-Indonesia, dramadhani@wwf.or.id. +62821 100 79992