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10:03 GMT
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (KUNA) -- Indonesia entered a new phase in countering
climate change and limiting carbon emissions after the authorities approved a
new approach to improve the conditions of forests and lands, known as the
"project of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
(REDD)".
The head of the project said, in press remarks Monday, that this project
does not only aim to finance investors, but is also preparing the government
to discover opportunities for improving the management of forests out of
commitment to protecting the environment and commercial growth.
Indonesia has the world's third largest forestland, which emits 60 percent
of the country's overall greenhouse gasses.
This project has a sustainable strategy, supported by a team of officials
from various ministries, institutions, and international organizations
interested in environment preservation.
This project made a number of achievements last year including
extinguishing forest fires, and improving management of forests.
The local authorities are exerting all possible efforts to counter climate
change with the unique and strategic geographical location of the country in
southeast Asia in mind.
The Indonesian authorities also established communities to support the
nations of the region in decreasing the carbon emissions through the
Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The project of decreasing the carbon emissions comes in harmony with
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang's pledge at the G-20 summit in 2009 to
reduce carbon emissions by 26 percent.
REDD is a set of steps designed to use market/financial incentives in order
to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from deforestation and forest
degradation. Its original objective is to reduce green house gases but it is
claimed that it can deliver "co-benefits" such as biodiversity conservation
and poverty alleviation. (end)
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