President Jokowi: Forest Management Must Combine Environmental, Economic, Social Aspects
President Jokowi addresses the participants of World Leaders’ Summit on Forest and Land Use at Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland (01/11). (Photo by: Presidential Secretariat’s Press, Media, and Information Bureau/Laily Rachev)
The successful climate management in Indonesia can be realized considering Indonesia has set climate action in the field of sustainable development, adding that, it is also important to combine environmental with economic and social considerations.
It was stated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Tuesday (02/11) during the World Leaders’ Summit on Forest and Land Use at the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, Scotland.
“Sustainable forest management policies must combine environmental with economic and social considerations. Partnerships with communities are also prioritized,” President Jokowi said in his remarks.
On that occasion, the President reiterated the importance of the social forestry program. The program aims to carry out forest conservation and improve livelihoods in local communities considering 34 percent of all villages in Indonesia are located at the borderline of or inside the forest areas.
“Millions of Indonesian people rely on the forestry sector for their livelihood. To deny this issue is not only unrealistic, but also unsustainable,” he added.
Furthermore, President Jokowi went on to say that 90 percent of the world’s population living in extreme poverty relies on forests for livelihood, adding that, the misuse of the climate change issue as a trade barrier is a terrible mistake.
According to the President, this problem will reduce trust in international cooperation to tackle climate change or even hinder sustainable development, which is much needed.
Therefore, President Jokowi noticed that forest management in the field of sustainable development is the only option. He also said that Indonesia is ready to share its experiences and knowledge on it.
“Let us manage forests that become pro-environment, pro-development, and people-centered. This is the main goal of the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade Dialogu [FACT Dialogue] which is co-chaired by Indonesia and the United Kingdom so that forests can be a sustainable solution for global climate action,” he remarked.
Previously, President Jokowi during the COP26 World Leaders’ Summit announced that as a part of solution to climate change issue, Indonesia’s forestry and land sector will achieve a “Net Carbon Sink” by 2030.
“Indonesia’s concrete achievements in the forestry sector are undeniable. In 2020, the rate of forest fires was dropped to 82 percent,” he said.
Indonesia, President Jokowi added, has also reduced emissions from forests and land use by 40.9 percent in 2019 compared to those in 2015 and Indonesia’s deforestation rate also reached its lowest level in the past 20 years.
“All of these were carried out last year when the world lost 12 percent more of its primary forests compared to the previous year and when many developed countries experienced the worst forest and land fires in history,” the President remarked.
For the record, there were only two leaders received a special invitation from Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson to speak during the World Leaders’ Summit on Forest and Land Use, namely President of the Republic of Colombia Iván Duque Márquez and President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo. (PRESIDENTIAL SECRETARIAT/UN) (AP/LW)
