Indonesia, Fiji seek new pact on climate forestry
Decide to deepen cooperation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus scheme, Voluntary Carbon Market
JAKARTA, Indonesia (MNTV) –– Indonesia and Fiji are seeking to renew their bilateral partnership to deepen cooperation on the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Plus (REDD+) scheme and the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), reports RRI.
The discussion on program exchange and capacity enhancement took place during a bilateral meeting involving Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment (KLH), Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries and Forests, and Conservation International Fiji.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the UNFCCC COP30 negotiations in Belém, Brazil, saw the Fijian delegation commend Indonesia’s leadership in the forestry sector.
Fiji specifically lauded Indonesia’s success and various initiatives concerning REDD+ and the VCM, affirming its keen interest in learning from Indonesia’s expertise to strengthen cooperation in climate change and forest management.
Moving forward, however, requires a formal renewal of the existing agreement. Haruni Krisnawati, Expert Staff to the Minister of Environment for Climate Change, acknowledged Indonesia’s readiness for expanded collaboration but emphasized the need for a stronger legal framework.
“Indonesia is open in principle to strengthening collaboration through program exchange and capacity building. However, the basis for cooperation needs to be updated,” Haruni said in a statement.
The previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed between the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries and Forests on April 24, 2018, expired on April 24, 2023.
“Renewing the MoU is necessary to provide a strong legal foundation for cooperation in the future,” Haruni affirmed.
The scope of the 2018 MoU was signed during the Asia Pacific Rainforest Summit III in Yogyakarta. It covered the application of technology for processing wood and non-wood products, as well as biomass energy derived from sustainably managed forests.
The cooperation also included developing eco-friendly trade for forest products, facilitating information and promoting legal timber, and supporting forest and land rehabilitation efforts, including social forestry programs.
Additionally, the agreement encompassed the protection and utilization of wildlife, aligning with biodiversity conservation and law enforcement efforts to prevent illegal logging and unsustainable practices.
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