REDD’s Task Force "Vision and Democracy problem"

Coconut Plantation nearest Meru Betiri National Park - East Java Province

Toward the second phase of Reduction Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) finished in the end of this year, special institution for REDD+ have not been formed. Whereas, according to agreement note between Indonesia and Norway which have been signed on May, 26 2010, second phase target is formed of special institution of REDD+ realized, pilot project have been reached, and also determining of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification system.

On January, 22 2013, there were President Decision Document Number 5 Year 2013 about Revision for President Decision Number 25 Year 2011 about Institutional Preparation Task Force of REDD+. As the decision, the task force (Satgas) have to forward the duty until REDD institution have been formed, at least on June, 30 2013. Pilot location of REDD+ is Central Kalimantan.

President Occupation Unit of Development Monitoring and Control Sector Leader (UKP4), Kuntoro Mangkusubroto had been interviewed in Jakarta Office. He was assigned as Chief of REDD institutional task force. He explained many things about the problem which have been faced currently and the future prospect of REDD+ after Susulo Bambang Yudhoyono government.

In his opinion, REDD+ institution must be have the strength, have the authority, to re-inspect the policy, give policy recommendation, policy reparation, and law maintenance. “The tasks like this cannot be propose to bureaucrat which work linearly.” He said.

Talking about forest, it will be related with some institution with vision, mission, and their own conception with its own regulation, even sometime it is in reverse condition. “The statute about forest, in example said, Ministry of Forestry which have authoritative and have their own definition about forest. Innovation is necessary in high policy decision understanding level.” he said too.

Presently, REDD+ institution formation position in bureaucracy process to arrange new institution. This step involving Ministry of Live Environment, Ministry of Forestry and Ministry of Administrative Reform.

The other trouble is to convey the conception about emission and carbon to those institution. “What is emission? What is carbon? What related between carbon and peat land, How are the carbon valued? Not talking about logging the tree then got revenue anymore. We talking about save the forest and then we get the revenue”, he said.

Not Only Emission

REDD+ conception is not only merely about carbon. There are addition value beyond the carbon. Faced thing is difficulty to explain REDD+ to related minister and their subordinate. 

The core of REDD+ is decreasing GHG emission value, and one of them is carbon gas. It not only adhering to the agreement of United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which consider carbon as commodity. “My theme is always beyond carbon.” He said. There are many additional value beyond carbon. “There are biodiversity, critical land utilization, etc.” he give more explanation.

With REDD+, alternative of local livelihood is opened. Leave the local community live without have another choice, in Kuntoro’s opinion is wrong in sociologically. All this time, i.e. palm oil concession have note raising local community from poverty.

In other side, he admitted that REDD+ is new stuff. The requirement of permission is still learning. Funding problem is still not resolving. Ministry of Finance have to be involved. How the funding from this institution, How local community get revenue directly from banking system?” he explained more.

He refuse funding from National Budged (APBN) which have good structure, so can exclude human and social dimension. When APBN entered, all of their freedom will be lose because have to following any rules which they cannot do.

Presently, Kuntoro have not thinking about carbon trade. “I don’t want to burden my mind” he said. Other than Norway, there is Australia and other countries who have carbon funding for REDD+. Carbon owner is still not clearly, is it private employer or local community. “I have extreme approach, the forest is belongs to local community, then if it refundable, the funding direction is directed to local community too” he said again.

In REDD+ program, there are 4 stakeholders, namely government, private employer, and local community and civil community. PT. Rimba Makmur Utama company is involved in REDD+ pilot in Central Kalimantan. REDD+ task force make Sekolah Sahabat Bumi, involving teachers and local community.

Democracy Problem

Kuntoro optimist to complete the task to forming REDD+ institution. “I have to optimist. The question is Id this institution have been formed, how many degree of design which we have to prepare in starting of accepted?” he said.

He hope that new president in a way with those policy and regulation. “If it said dismissed, it is ok. At least, this year we have arranging the program. Although, there is any Long Term Development Planning (RPJM) and Medium Term Development planning (RPJM), development program is not guaranteed imperishable.  Current regent have said no to the region RPJM from previous regent policy. Apparently there are still a problem to translate our democracy to good government’s rule” he closed the discussion.

Red. Kompas Newspaper; March, 21 2013 page: 14

Local people nearest West Kalimantan Lowland Forest