NGOs Criticize Government's Definition Of Deforestation

Jakarta, Sept 12 (Antara) - The Indonesian Forest and Global Climate Salvation Coalition led by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), has criticised the definition of deforestation, as stated in Presidential Regulation No. 62/2013. "The Presidential Regulation No. 62/2013 defines deforestation as destruction of forests, which is vague," said Mida Saragih, coordinator of the Indonesia Civil Society Forum for Climate Justice (CSF-CJI), a coalition member, on Thursday. In fact, conversion of forests into plantations is not considered deforestation, added Saragih. As such, NGOs consider this definition weak, particularly when dealing with license overlapping, land spacing disorders, and corruption. Other members of the coalition include Walhi (Indonesian Environmental Forum), Perkumpulan Huma, and the Alliance of Nusantara Indigenous Community. They, however, praised the government`s efforts to issue a regulation to receive funds that are non-binding in the forestry sector. The NGOs have urged the government to make a public announcement about the new agency`s short, middle, and long term programmes. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono recently signed a presidential decree on the establishment of a national agency on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). The establishment of the ministerial-level agency is part of the government`s commitment to reduce emissions by 26 percent before 2020, or by 41 percent, with the help of international entities, as stated by the president in 2009. The REDD+ agency will report directly to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and fulfill one of the several criteria detailed in the climate change partnership, signed by Indonesia and Norway in 2010.