[Jakarta, August 30, 2020] The Sustainable Madani Foundation (Yayasan Madani Berkelanjutan) appreciates the approval of the Indonesian government's funding proposal to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for performance payments on emissions reductions from reduced deforestation and degradation (REDD+). The GCF Fund can be an opportunity to encourage the recognition and strengthening of the rights of Indigenous and local communities in achieving Indonesia's climate commitments. The GCF Fund should be prioritized to reduce deforestation and degradation at the grassroots level through strengthening Social Forestry and Forest Management Units (FMUs). Both of these initiatives can strengthen the tenure rights of Indigenous and local communities and contribute to reducing deforestation and forest degradation if implemented properly based on active stakeholder engagement.
This was conveyed by Muhammad Teguh Surya, Executive Director of the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, regarding the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board Meeting, which approved Indonesia's REDD+ results-based payment proposal of USD 103.8 million. The Indonesian government's proposal presented Indonesia's REDD+ performance results for the 2014-2016 period, with an emission reduction volume of approximately 20.3 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
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"We welcome the fact that the funds received by the Indonesian government will be used, as directed by the President, for community-based environmental restoration. Therefore, the implementation of this program and the distribution of these funds must be fully transparent, and the priority programs must be implemented in broad consultation with indigenous and local community organizations, as well as civil society ," said Teguh.
" To ensure that funds are truly disbursed effectively, a multi-stakeholder body within the Environmental Fund Management Agency (BPDLH) needs to be established immediately, with representatives from indigenous and local community organizations, as well as civil society organizations. Furthermore, there needs to be clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of the program institutions that will manage the funds received, particularly to empower the BPDLH, which will be operational this year ," Teguh added.
" The funded priority programs must truly be aimed at community-based environmental restoration, including accelerating and strengthening social forestry and recognizing customary territories. Social forestry and FMU strengthening programs must also be synergized with climate change adaptation and mitigation programs, peat restoration, critical land rehabilitation, and reducing deforestation and degradation, which are the main mitigation actions of the NDC in the forestry sector ," said Anggalia Putri Permatasari, Knowledge Management Manager of the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation.
To that end, the government needs to strengthen the role of FMUs at the grassroots level with the mandate and resources to resolve tenure conflicts and facilitate efforts to prevent and resolve violations of the rights of indigenous and local communities, as well as to enforce regulations regarding forestry licensing.
There is deep concern that progress in recognizing customary forests and territories has lagged significantly compared to other social forestry schemes. " To accelerate the achievement of social forestry and the recognition of customary territories, the government also needs to immediately harmonize the Indicative Social Forestry Area Map (PIAPS) and the Indigenous Peoples' Territory Map, as well as various other land use permits related to development ," added Anggalia Putri.
The government must also be more proactive in pushing for the passage of the Indigenous Peoples Bill, which would formally recognize Indigenous Peoples and their rights, including rights to forest resources. Besides being a constitutional obligation, strengthening land rights and tenure security for indigenous and local communities is an enabling condition that must be realized for Indonesia to successfully reduce deforestation and degradation and achieve its climate commitments.
Media Contact:
Muhammad Teguh Surya, Executive Director of the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, HP 0812 9480 1453
Anggalia Putri Permatasari, Knowledge Management Manager of the Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, HP 856-21018-997
Luluk Uliyah, Senior Media Communication Officer, Madani Berkelanjutan Foundation, 0815 1986 8887
