BANTEN, Indonesia, Jan 10 (IPS) – In the forests of Indonesia today, we can breathe. At the end of our dry season, at a time when climate change was increasing in frequency and intensity, there was no big fire with the smoke that choked our region.
Sadly, wildfires have been raging elsewhere, in the Amazon and even in New York City, as an unprecedented drought plagues forests around the world.
The increase in deforestation around the world continues to be very concentrated. But in Indonesia, which contains the world’s third largest area of tropical rainforest, deforestation rates are still below the highest levels from 8-10 years ago despite climate impacts such as El Nino patterns and the constant threat of large fires.
The significance of Indonesia’s progress is diminished if it remains isolated. Forests in all forested countries remain vulnerable, both to fires caused by climate change and to deforestation pressures from economic interests seeking to exploit the natural resources contained in forests.
Scientists have calculated that about one-half of all emissions are caused by burning fossil fuels were absorbed by the world’s forests in the last thirty years. The world is gaining a better understanding of how important forests are in the fight against global climate change.
Our experience begins with something, although it may seem basic, that too many countries suffer from: the need to stop criminal enterprises from destroying forests. All over the world, illegal logging and other forest crimes are taking their toll $100 billion a year– almost as much as governments provide development aid every year.
In 2011, about 80% of Indonesia’s timber exports were considered illegal, produced in violation of Indonesian laws. That was a watershed moment, which put us on the path to sustainable management of our forests.
We started with a temporary ban on new logging permits in 2011 that became permanent in 2019. We then use a new system (called SVLK) that tracks the route taken by all timber products for export, back to the forest where it started. in favor.
Today, 80% of the produce from productive forests is now sustainably certified and all timber exports come from independently audited factories and forests, even those destined for markets outside the UK and EU that do not require such a system.
Indonesia was the first tropical forest country to introduce its own traceability system, and only Ghana tracks its timber to the same extent. It is one of the first steps required for countries exporting timber to the UK and EU markets, and ensures that our timber products, including furniture and paper, are sustainably sourced and comply with all our legal requirements.
Strong forest governance has increased the value of national timber exports, and revenue is no longer lost to black market activities. Indonesia has seen a 19% increase in the value of timber exports to the EU, to around USD 1.4 billion, since the tracking system went online and UK and EU exports began in 2016.
Access to UK and EU markets will not be possible without programs that work with Indigenous peoples and respect their rights to manage their forests.
Our tracking system provides reports that show that the production of each shipment of timber exports complies with the respect of their rights. Our support and collaboration with small and medium enterprises has increased business and trade with forest-dependent communities, providing markets for bamboo, timber, wild foods, essential oils and spices.
This acceptance of sustainability and respect for Indigenous rights, as well as the rejection of criminal enterprises, can be accepted in any forest around the world.
The UK government in particular has been instrumental in supporting the implementation of these safeguards; its long-term support over the past two decades to forestry stakeholders in Indonesia through the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate program helped establish a new national program, making local communities more vigilant against forest crime and strengthening management practices.
We look and see similar efforts growing in Liberia and Cameroon especially as worthy of continued support; they have made great strides in fighting illegal businesses and recognizing people’s rights. The many measures needed to meet the needs of the UK and EU markets are important but also require consistent funding and resources which can be hard to come by in times of economic downturn in particular.
Effective management of the forest sector requires the acceptance of partnerships—with all communities and organizations involved in the supply chain and all markets and each need for sustainability and transparency.
We value our new ten-year relationship with the UK which has just been concluded and we hope that the UK can establish new relationships with other nations. When you build these relationships, the benefits go beyond profits; society receives greater stability, greater trade, and favorable climate benefits.
Agus Justianto, PhDhe is the Vice Chairman of Indonesia FOLU Net Sink 2030 and Chairman of the International Peatland Center.
© Inter Press Service (2025) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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