REDD+ agency closed down ‘is not in accordance’ to Indonesia-Norway agreement

Jakarta, Ekuatorial – Dissolving Indonesia’s agency on reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation, or REDD+, into the Ministry of Environment and Forestry was ‘no doubt not in accordance’ to the country’s bilateral agreement with Norway made in 2010, said Heru Prasetyo, now former head of REDD+ agency, in Jakarta, on Thursday (29/1). The agreement, […]

North Lampung police arrested five allegedly illegal loggers

Bandarlampung, Ekuatorial – North Lampung police arrested five suspects for illegal logging during major patrol for the past week, said Aris Satrio, the police’s spokesperson adding that the bust was made based on a report from local people as they were worried on floods resulted from Wayrarem dam. The suspects are Karyanti, Sugimin, Gimin, Jamaludin, […]

Raja Ampat to have its forest mapped out digitally

Sorong, Ekuatorial – As digital map availability for forest area was still limited, Fauna Flora International or FFI held basic training to map out Raja Ampat forest area which already started on Wednesday (21/1). The workshop also involved local civil society and Raja Ampat Region 1 Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA). “The mapping will not […]

Walhi Aceh : Leuser is ‘for sale’ in carbon market

The situation is much different compare to then Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf. During his time, he said, government was led to climate change issues. Forced eviction of villagers living at Leuser National Park is blasted as new colonialism from the government as they had signed an agreement related to carbon which consequently pushing people out […]

Forest official in Lampung moving people out from its national park, peacefully

Bandarlampung, Ekuatorial – As increasing population living surrounding protected forest areas, officials started to launch awareness campaigns for local people to move out from the forest, said an official, in Bandarlampung, Lampung province, recently. Based on Lampung Statistic Agency, the province’s population living near forest areas had risen significantly for the past ten years, from […]

AMAN submitted maps of customary lands to REDD+ agency

Jakarta, Ekuatorial – Indigenous People’s Alliance of the Archipelago or AMAN submitted 517 maps of customary lands to ministry of environment and forestry hoping to speed up legalization of customary rights, said secretary general of AMAN, Abdon Nababan, on Monday (22/12), in Jakarta. “These maps are very important for indigenous people to be recognized. Land […]

Aceh Tamiang villagers learning organic farming

Langsa, Ekuatorial – At least 25 villagers of Aceh Tamiang district will be learning theories and practices about agriculture in Babo village, Bandar Pusaka sub-district, at the Field School for the first time, said the coordinator of the event, recently. Different from conventional learning, Field School will be teaching eco-friendly agriculture, including on how to […]

Aru Islands threatened by plantation

Jakarta, Ekuatorial – Amid massive marine awareness campaign by government, activists on Wednesday (17/12) blasted permit given by ministry of forestry to turn natural forest of Aru Islands of northern Papua to become plantation. “We already know that Aru [island] is not suitable for plantation but permits were being issued. It is possible that they […]