Enviro News Asia, Jakarta – Today, we are able to let out a sigh of relief while we are in the forests of Indonesia. There were no massive fires that were suffocating our region with plumes of smoke near the end of our dry season, which occurred during a period when the effects of climate change are becoming more frequent and severe.
In a tragic turn of events, forest fires have been raging abroad with growing severity, including in the Amazon and even in New York City, on account of terrible droughts that have been plaguing forests all over the world.
Not only was Indonesia the first country in the tropical forest region to implement its monitoring system, but Ghana is the only other country that tracks its timber on a comparable scale. Additionally, it ensures that our timber products, such as furniture and paper, have been sourced in a sustainable manner and that they comply with all of our legal criteria. This is one of the first steps that nations that export timber to markets in the United Kingdom and the European Union are expected to do.
An increasing number of people are paying attention to the issue of deforestation on a global scale. Nevertheless, despite the fact that climate impacts such as El Nino systems and the ongoing threat of catastrophic fires are still there, the rates of deforestation in Indonesia, which is home to the third largest tropical rainforest that is still in existence, are still lower than the peak rates that occurred eight to ten years ago.
If Indonesia continues to be an isolated nation, the significance of its success will be eroded. Woodlands in virtually every country that is covered in forest continue to be susceptible to both fires that are driven by climate change and pressures to deforest that come from economic interests that are looking to utilize the natural resources that forest lands hold.
Scientists have determined that during the course of the last three decades, the world’s forests have been responsible for absorbing about half of all emissions that are produced by the combustion of fossil fuels. There is a growing awareness among people all over the world regarding the significance of forests in the fight against climate change from a global perspective.
First and foremost, our experience begins with something that, despite its seeming simplicity, is a problem that plagues an excessive number of nations: the requirement to prevent criminal organizations from destroying trees. It is estimated that illicit logging and other forest crimes earn a total of one hundred billion United States dollars yearly. This amount is nearly equivalent to the amount that governments provide for development assistance each year.
It was estimated that over 80 percent of Indonesia’s timber exports in 2011 were illegal, meaning that they were produced in violation of Indonesia’s own regulations. That was a defining moment, one that was the impetus for us to embark on a journey toward more environmentally responsible forest management.
Before anything else, we began by putting in place a temporary moratorium on new logging concessions in 2011. This embargo was extended to a permanent one in 2019. Then, we put in place a brand new system that we dubbed SVLK, which is able to follow the path that each and every timber product that is destined for export takes all the way back to the forest where it was initially collected.
Today, eighty percent of the production that comes from primary productive forests is now certified for sustainability, and all of the timber that is exported comes from factories and forests that have been independently audited. This includes the timber that is intended for markets outside of the United Kingdom and the European Union, which do not require such a system.
Not only was Indonesia the first country in the tropical forest region to implement its monitoring system, but Ghana is the only other country that tracks its timber on a comparable scale. Because it is one of the first steps that nations who export timber to markets in the United Kingdom and the European Union are obligated to take, it guarantees that our timber goods, such as furniture and paper, have been sourced in a sustainable manner and that they comply with all of our legal standards.
There has been an increase in the value of national timber exports as a result of strong forest governance, and operations on the black market are no longer causing revenue to be lost. Since the tracking system went online in 2016 and shipments to the United Kingdom and the European Union started, Indonesia’s timber exports to the European Union have increased by around 19%, reaching a total value of approximately USD 1.4 billion.
In the absence of initiatives that collaborate with Indigenous Peoples and respect their rights to manage their forests, it would be impossible to gain access to markets in the United Kingdom and the European Union.
The records that are generated by our tracking system demonstrate that the production of each shipment of timber that is intended for export is prepared in a manner that is respectful of their rights. Businesses and trade with communities that are dependent on forests have increased as a result of our support and partnership with small and medium-sized firms. These small and medium-sized businesses have provided markets for the communities’ bamboo, timber, wild edibles, essential oil, and spices.
This rejection of illegal enterprises, together with the acceptance of sustainable practices and respect for indigenous rights, is something that can be accepted in every forest in the world.
With its long-term support over the past two decades to forestry stakeholders in Indonesia through the Forest Governance, Markets and Climate program, the United Kingdom government has been particularly instrumental in supporting the implementation of these safeguards. This support led to the establishment of the new national system, which enables local communities to monitor against forest crime and strengthen management practices.
We look and see comparable efforts rising in Liberia and Cameroon in particular as being deserving of sustained assistance; they have made remarkable gains in combating illegal enterprises and recognizing community rights. We believe that these efforts should be supported. The many procedures that must be taken in order to satisfy the criteria of the markets in the United Kingdom and the European Union are essential; nevertheless, they also require consistent money and resources, which can be difficult to locate, particularly during times of economic crisis.
In order to effectively manage the forestry industry, it is necessary to embrace partnerships. These partnerships should include every community and entity that is a part of the supply chain, as well as every market and every necessity for environmentally responsible and transparent practices.
We are grateful for the recently finalized ten-year collaboration that we have with the United Kingdom, and we remain hopeful that the United Kingdom will be able to form new agreements with other countries. If you are successful in forming these relationships, the benefits will extend beyond an increase in profits; society will experience more stability, increased trade, and favorable effects on the environment.
