By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda and Israr Ardiansyah

Jakarta (22/06)-Numbers of Indonesian Ministries; Coordinating Ministry for Economy, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry for Public Works, and Ministry of Home Affairs stated their supports for the newly Sumatra Sustainability Funds (SSF) for sustainability financing in Sumatra. Those supports were mentioned at the launching of Sumatra Sustainability Funds (SSF) and Fundraising Night, on Wednesday (22/06) in Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta.
In his speech delivered by Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan, Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa said commitment of Indonesian government to saving Sumatra was previously declared by Sumatran governors on 18 September 2008 and followed by declaration of Indonesian delegations at the 2008 IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona.

“The strong commitment in carrying conservation cannot be separated from financing aspects which are in line with the conservation character itself. Therefore the suitable financing mechanism is the long term and sustainable financing system,” he added.
Beside representing Minister Hatta Rajasa, Zulkifli Hasan also showed his support for SSF. He expected SSF could facilitate communication between stakeholders and develop ownership to save the ecosystem, conservation, and protected forest in Sumatra.
Meanwhile, State Minister for the Environment Gusti Mohammad Hatta highlighted the importance of serious efforts, both preventive and rehabilitation effort, for critical areas in Sumatra . “SSF as an effort to support sustainability funds to secure Sumatra ecosystem needs support from all parties. Therefore SSF is able to maximize its work,” he said.
The same concern came from Minister of Home Affairs Gamawan Fauzi. He highlighted the importance of participation from all stakeholders to secure environmental condition in Sumatra. “I hope SSF can become a cross-province and cross-activity bridge among many interests in Sumatera. I strongly believe that efforts and collaboration from all stakeholders will be able to save Sumatra as an important component of the archipelago.”

Noted environmental figure who is a member of the Presidential Advisory Council, Emil Salim, also showed his support for SSF. “I hailed Sumatra Sustainability Funds as collection of funds to save Sumatra ecosystem and biodiversities. The funds collected from the community will be able to be used by themselves to save the environment.”
WWF-Indonesia gave total support for the multi-stakeholder initiative. CEO of WWF-Indonesia Efransjah said Sumatra is the vanguard to show the world that sustainable development is not a wishful thinking. He also mentioned that recently in Oslo, Indonesian and Norwegian governments acknowledged the importance of Sumatra as one of the focus of global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “WWF-Indonesia supports SSF by contributing to innovative concept toward sustainable Sumatra,” he said.
National figure who had placed important positions in Indonesian cabinet, Marzuki Usman is the Chairman of SSF advisory board. While WWF-Indonesia Director for Forest, Species, and Freshwater Program Ian Kosasih and other national figures are also members of the board.For managing its daily activities, SSF will be led by Sri Mariati (or better known as Cici) who was appointed as Executive Director for SSF. Cici previously actively dealt with WWF-Indonesia’s conservation program in Riau. Afterward, she was asked to help policy and forest team in WWF-Indonesia Jakarta office. For the first five years, WWF-Indonesia will help funding collection for SSF which is expected to effectively distribute the fund in 2012.
SSF will focus on fundraising and natural resources management and play its role to accelerate collaboration between government, private sectors, and civil society organization to save Sumatra ecosystem.