Jakarta (19/04)-Ahead of Earth Day on 22 April 2012, WWF and partners, as well as the Government of Indonesia, organized the Heart of Borneo (HoB) forum focusing on the green economy and the future of this 220,000 km2 region over three days on 18-20 April 2012.

The forum, titled Green Economy for People, Planet and Prosperity, consists of a series of interactive and informative sessions that will be held at @america, a state-of-the-art cultural center, located in Pacific Place Mall, Jakarta. The forum will be held in the heart of Borneo.

Luminaries in economics, policy, business and finance will define what a green economy means for the HoB and develop a roadmap to achieve it, which could serve as a beacon to the world for the successful bridging of conservation and sustainable development in this iconic landscape.

"As the organizing partner of the Forum, the Heart of Borneo National Working Group (Pokjanas HoB) in Indonesia looks forward, together with WWF and other partners, to showcasing and discussing progress and opportunities to achieve a green economy in the HoB region," said Dr. Andi Novianto, Chairman of Pokjanas HoB, who is also assistant deputy minister for forestry at the Ministry of Economy. .

Adam Tomasek, from the WWF HoB Global Initiative, stated that it was indeed appropriate that the Forum was held on the eve of Earth Day, given that the HoB is one of the largest expanses of tropical forest in the world with significant capabilities in mitigating climate change on earth. It is a place that has a unique yet endangered natural wealth, such as orang-utans, pygmy elephants, rhinos and clouded leopards, to name a few of the many species that exist in Borneo.

"Unfortunately despite the region's significance, this priceless wealth could be lost, even before we have a chance to fully understand the extent of its richness and value." Borneo's biodiversity is at risk.

The governments of the three countries, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia recognized this importance by signing the Heart of Borneo Declaration in 2007, to protect and develop the region sustainably. From this, many achievements have been made, but challenges remain.

"We want to show that a green economy roadmap for a sustainable future is not only a possibility, but actually provides social, economic and environmental benefits." "We cannot solve the problems of the future by following the old ways, we need a new approach," said Tomasek. .

"This Forum will show that a multi-stakeholder approach to valuing the natural capital contained in forests can ensure that forests are more valuable than they are cut down," he added.

Dialogue and discussion during the Forum will focus on the potential of the green economy to accelerate economic growth, contribute to greenhouse gas reduction targets, and at the same time support economic development in some of the poorer parts of the region. .

The Forum is also an important platform in strengthening the commitment to showcase the HoB as an advanced green economy initiative at the United Nations Conference on Rio (also known as Rio +20) in Brazil, June 2012.

Concurrently, the Borneo Festival was organized as part of this celebration, starting from April 6-22, 2012 at Gandaria City Mall, Jakarta. The festival runs for three weeks consisting of photo exhibitions, cultural performances, and culminates in an Earth Day to celebrate the rich nature and culture of Borneo. The festival will bring all aspects of Borneo, its sounds, sights and people, from the far-flung Borneo, to the urban community in Jakarta!

Forum & Festival Highlights
Green economy roundtable - A multi-sector perspective on the steps needed to build a green economy in the HoB region and in Asia, especially the focus of the green economy on the upcoming UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio 20+ in Brazil, June 2012).

Investing in the green economy - Discussion on the policy, fiscal and economic instruments needed to realize a green economy, including the incentives and disincentives necessary to reinforce the principle of sustainability for all.

Book release and dialogue on the role of business in realizing a green economy - A lively and engaging dialogue including a book launch: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Business. Download the related Press Release for further reference.

Realizing a sustainable future for the Heart of Borneo - Three Heart of Borneo governments and local civil society leaders discuss detailed progress towards green development in the HoB region.

Indigenous peoples celebration of the Heart of Borneo - Release of the Human Heart of Borneo publication - a publication to illustrate the cultural contributions of indigenous peoples to the richness of the Heart of Borneo. Download a separate Press Release for more information..

Voices of Future Generations - Students from schools in Jakarta will discuss, debate and put forward ideas for a sustainable environmental future in the Heart of Borneo region. This session includes the organization of the semifinals and finals of the Green Economy Debate competition.

For more information, contact:

• Adam Tomasek, Leader, Heart of Borneo Initiative, WWFTel: +62 21 5761070 Ext. 228, Fax: +62 21 5761080, E-mail: atomasek@wwf.or.id
• Nancy Ariaini, International Communications Officer, WWFE-mail: nariaini@wwf.or.id

Editor's Note
About Heart of Borneo (HoB)
The Heart of Borneo (HoB), the living heart of Borneo, the only place left in Southeast Asia, stretches across the borders of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei and reaches into ecologically linked foothills and lowlands where forests can still be conserved on a vast scale. The 220,000 square kilometers of interconnected rainforest, comprising a network of sustainably managed conservation and cultivation areas, ensure the protection and preservation of biodiversity and water resources for the benefit of local, national and international stakeholders.

The Heart of Borneo program aims to assist the governments of the three countries of Borneo (Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia) to conserve this region through a network of protected areas, sustainably managed forests and through international cooperation guided by the governments of the three countries.

Heart of Borneo Declaration
In February 2007, the governments of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia signed the Heart of Borneo Declaration to protect an area of more than 220,000 square kilometers that lies at the heart of Borneo Island and that borders the three countries. Together they underlined the fact that the tropical rainforests in the Heart of Borneo region serve a strategic function globally, nationally and locally, not only for the people living on Borneo Island but also for global interests.

This declaration is supported by regional and international treaties and agreements such as ASEAN, BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asia Growth Area), APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) and UNCBD (United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity).

For more information, visit: www.panda.org/heart_of_borneo