RI to propose global reforestation fund

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian government will propose the establishment of a global fund aimed at regreening global tropical forestlands that supply much of the world's oxygen.

State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar said Thursday the proposal would be tabled at the upcoming United Nations climate talks in Bali in December.

Rachmat said the fund would be contributed to by the world's rich countries, which do not possess tropical forests but benefit from their presence.

"The present arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol has worked against our interests as reforestation only gets 5 percent of the CDM (clean development mechanism). It's not fair, we must correct the practice," Rachmat told reporters after a special Cabinet meeting on preparations for the Bali talks.

Rachmat said the government is optimistic that the proposal will gain the support of other developing nations with substantial tropical forestlands such as Congo, the Philippines and Brazil.

"I believe that the 180 developing countries that will be present at the Bali conference will support Indonesia's proposal," Rachmat said, adding that Indonesia, as conference host, would be able to set the agenda for the meeting.

Rachmat said the proposal, if enacted, would enable countries with tropical forests to collect billions of dollars from rich nations.

"Even without such a proposal, countries such as Australia have already earmarked AU$200 million for the purpose," Rachmat said.

Another proposal to be tabled by Indonesia at the Bali meeting is the transfer of environmentally friendly technologies from developed to developing nations.

The high-level Bali meeting is expected to be a prelude to a climate summit in 2008.

Environment ministers from more than 100 countries are expected to attend the conference, which will seek to formulate a successor to the Kyoto Protocol which concludes in 2012.

Reaching consensus at the meeting will likely be an uphill struggle as any international policy on tackling climate change will require the approval of the United States, China and India, all countries that refused to ratify Kyoto.

The U.S. government has stated its stiff opposition to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's fresh calls for mandatory emission limits made at the Group of Eight summit in the German town of Heiligendaam.

The UN said that a meeting between ministers and senior delegates that will serve as a precursor to the Bali talks will take place in September.