REDD+ Agency and 1.7 Billion Trees

By Cintin Sakina – PILI Green Network

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have been established a REDD+ agency to support the country’s efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. REDD+ Task Force will run through December 31, 2012 and task force will be chaired by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto. “The task force is meant to set up the REDD institution, to coordinate arrangement of the REDD+ national strategy, to set up a financial instrument and monitoring agency and monitor implementation of REDD and of a new permit moratorium on peat lands and primary forests,” said Agus Purnomo, a presidential adviser on climate change. Agus added that as of June, the task force had only managed to finalize a forestry moratorium map, which identifies primary and peat forests for which no concessions may be issued between 2010 and 2012 (Jakarta Globe /September 13, 2011).

As part of its efforts to cut its gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020, the Indonesian government has been planting to rehabilitate its damaged forests. This year`s planting target is also set at 1.7 billion trees, those trees capable of absorbing about 47.6 billion tons of carbon gases. “I believe 90 percent of the 1.7 billion trees will grow. We have set ourselves the target of planting at least 1.7 billion trees this year. Hopefully, the number of trees that can grow will be far higher than last year,” Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said(Antara /September 15, 2011).

According to the minister each of the trees planted is able to absorb 28 tons of carbon gases per annum. Thus, if the 1.7 billion trees are successfully planted and grown they will be able to serve as home to 47.6 billion tons of carbon sinks. “One tree is able to absorb 28 tons of CO2 gas and hold 100 liters of water a year,” the minister said. Preservation of forests has an effect to the survival of animal species and he planting of trees is also crucial to human beings who breathe 10 tons of oxygen free of charge per annum and use about 10 liters of water a day, Minister Zulkifli said. Let’s support to cut gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020 and make Indonesia Green.