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Steve Patriarco
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Indonesia's moratorium on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Mar 25, 2011
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This issue truly deserves a thread of its own. I've also thrown this in another thread, entitled,
"[POLL] Where do you think the most action could
be taken to improve the sustainability and social responsibility of the oil palm industry?"
under the "THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENTS" section. But given the huge significance of this, I didn't want
it to get too buried.
Gov't
to Issue Long Overdue Forests Decree Jakarta Globe, Mar. 25, 2011
As the title implies, this moratorium has been delayed for many months now. So what exactly is this
moratorium? How did it come about? What does it apply to? Will it really spell the change that is
needed for wildlife, rural communities, and the global climate? Let's get a discussion going!
There's a lot to unravel here. Knowledge is power!
This post was edited on: 2011-05-20 at 05:31 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's moratorium on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Mar 25, 2011
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------------------------------------------------
BACKGROUND ON THE MORATORIUM
The two-year moratorium on granting concessions in peatland and primary forests is part of a
bilateral agreement with Norway, in exchange for which Indonesia will receive $1 billion in funding
for Reducing Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD-plus) activities. Read here for a detailed
description of Indonesia's plan to protect it's forests, including explanation of the 3 distinct
phases of the REDD+ program.
------------------------------------------------
WHAT THE MORATORIUM APPLIES TO
There are currently three versions of
draft moratorium decrees, with important differences between them. There are major differences
between the first two draft decrees. Perhaps the most important difference is that the Ministry of
Forestry’s draft decree applies only to primary forest, while the REDD-Plus task force version
applies to primary and secondary forests. The latest draft of the decree, obtained by the Jakarta
Globe, states that the moratorium applies to "forests" and "peatlands" and calls for improving the
management of these areas. These are quite vague categories, and the specific details make a world
of difference. Please, if you come across details, share them in this thread promptly. I will do
the same. [From The Jakarta Globe: (3/25/2011) Teguh Surya, head of climate justice at the
Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said it was important for the contents of the
presidential instruction to be made public. “It’s not just a matter of when the decree will be
signed, but also what it says,” he said. “The government should have and is supposed to make the
contents publicly available first because of the implications for the people and other
stakeholders.”]
------------------------------------------------
WHAT THE MORATORIUM DOES NOT APPLY TO
The decree states explicitly that the moratorium will not apply for permits for "strategic national
development," including geothermal and oil and gas exploration, power plants and large-scale rice
and sugar plantations. The moratorium, taking effect on Friday, May 20, after a five-month delay,
will also exempt permits already given in principle by the forestry ministry and extensions of
existing permits.
------------------------------------------------
WHEN THE MORATORIUM TAKES EFFECT
While January 1st, 2011 was the designated start date, in order for the moratorium to be legally
binding, it must be backed by a presidential decree, which is delayed but expected to be issued this
April. Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta stated on 3/24/2011, “The president said the
decree will be issued soon. Once it’s been signed, we can implement the moratorium and there will
be no more permits issued for clearing primary forest.” He added that despite the lack of a
decree, the moratorium had been in effect all year. “We’ve banned clearing of peatland and
primary forests since the start of the year.” Gusti added on 3/24/2011 that, “We’ve already
stopped issuing permits. The decree is only to provide legal certainty.”
Update: The moratorium went into effect on May 20, 2011.
------------------------------------------------
TIMELINE OF RELATED ARTICLES (Sources: Mongabay, REDD-Monitor, Jakarta Post, Jakarta Globe,
Rainforest News, etc.)
AUGUST 2008
Palm oil producers in Indonesia reject
moratorium on forest destruction
JANUARY 2010
Indonesian government report recommends
moratorium on peatlands conversion
MAY 2010
Norway to provide Indonesia with
$1B to protect rainforests
Indonesia announces moratorium on
granting new forest concessions
Indonesia to revoke palm oil
concession licenses under forest deal
JUNE 2010
Indonesia's plan to save
its rainforests
Indonesian government's
promise up in smoke: fires rise by 59 percent
JULY 2010
Large-scale forest destruction in
Sumatra undermines Indonesia's deal with Norway
OCTOBER 2010
Norway calls for other
nations to step up in fight against deforestation in Indonesia
NOVEMBER 2010
Indonesia's forest
protection plan at risk, says report
DECEMBER 2010
New data suggests REDD+
is succeeding
JANUARY 2011
Indonesia delays
logging moratorium
Too Many Draft Decrees Delay Indonesia's Logging Moratorium
Indonesia grants slew of
last-minute logging concessions on eve of moratorium
FEBRUARY 2011
Indonesia set to clear 3
million ha of rainforest in New Guinea
MARCH 2011
What is the current status of
REDD+?
Gov't
to Issue Long Overdue Forests Decree
Presid
ent Yudhoyono vows to protect palm oil interests
Indonesia: Greenpeace reveals the maps of the moratorium
MAY 2011
Factbox: Indonesia's moratorium on forest clearance <--includes list of exemptions
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The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-05-20 at 05:36 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Fabrice Marre
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Mar 28, 2011
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The moratorium is part of Phase 2 of the Indonesia-Norway cooperation on REDD.
This moratorium is full of loopholes...
Have a look at this maps from Greenpeace showing Forests and area at risk, concessions. The picture
is scary...
like the way this moratorium will be implemented...
Some oil palm companies are operating without Forest Relinquishment Licenses and/or Timber
Exploitation Licenses.
These companies include companies owned by Golden-Agri Resources Ltd., Wilmar International, IOI,
Sime Darby and Astra Agro Lestari.
Who is investing in those companies??...the Norwegian government.
See the report here
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"Reach for the moon because even if you miss you will land among the stars"
Borneo's rainforest and orangutans need my help...
I'M READY TO TAKE ACTIONS!
...
A bit more about me...
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Mar 28, 2011
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whereisfabrice wrote:
Who is investing in those companies??...the Norwegian government.
See the report here
Fabrice, was Protection Money [PDF], the report by Greenpeace, what you
were trying to share? The link didn't come through. In any case, yes, it is *very* illuminating to
follow the $, so to speak. It really adds tremendous perspective.
I'd respectfully suggest that people read Greenpeace publications critically; GP does a truly
admirable job of drawing attention to oft-ignored issues, but I believe it is also important to
consider their agenda and conduct a little further research before drawing any final conclusions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-03-28 at 12:10 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Fabrice Marre
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Mar 28, 2011
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Steve, I'm not sure what's happening with my links. Anyway, this is the document from Greenpeace I
was referring, thanks.
I agree that Greenpeace can sometimes highlight only the bad side of things but it is still a worry
to see the way this moratorium is handled.
I'm looking forward to see the result of your research on that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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"Reach for the moon because even if you miss you will land among the stars"
Borneo's rainforest and orangutans need my help...
I'M READY TO TAKE ACTIONS!
...
A bit more about me...
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's moratorium on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 4, 2011
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Sorry for the few days of delay between my posting the skeleton of this thread and filling it in
with details, folks! It's been a crazy few days for me since I was awarded my 2012 Fulbright grant
to Indonesia. Lots of exciting stuff in the pipeline!
In any case, I hope this thread provides you all with some much-needed details with regards to the
moratorium. I am eagerly awaiting the full public release of the presidential decree and will post
it as soon as I track down a copy. As you can see, it's quite a complex issue, with lots of push
and pull from different stakeholders. As Teguh Surya, the head of climate justice at the Indonesian
Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said, “It’s not just a matter of WHEN the decree will be
signed, but also WHAT it says.” Definitions are very important. Loopholes, where they exist, are
certain to be exploited. It is important that we keep a very close eye on this. A purely
profit-driven model now not only can spell disaster for Indonesia's environment, it also can
bankrupt the long-term health of Indonesia's economy. This is not just an environmental issue or a
human/animal rights issue, it is very much an economic issue as well.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-05-20 at 05:38 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Fabrice Marre
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 14, 2011
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Thanks Steve, for this very informative list.
It looks like the moratorium is still delayed...
Indonesia
delaying deforestation ban
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"Reach for the moon because even if you miss you will land among the stars"
Please have a look at my video submission for the deforestaction Borneo 3D project, and if you think
I would make a good action hero, rate/vote for me!
I'M READY TO TAKE ACTIONS!
...
A bit more about me...
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's moratorium on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 14, 2011
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You're absolutely right Fabrice, it still is being delayed. It would appear to be a case of heavy
corporate lobbying (not surprisingly) that is stalling the moratorium promise.
Here is a detailed article if you/others are interested:
Indonesia Delaying Deforestation Ban Asia Sentinel, Apr. 14, 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-05-20 at 05:38 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 14, 2011
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I just noticed that we both posted the same article - mine was from the original source (Asia
Sentinel) whereas yours was a crosspost onto the REDD-info blog. Folks may find the latter (yours)
a useful website for following future REDD developments. Cheers Fabrice, I hope all is going well
with you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-04-14 at 04:37 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Grand Inquisitor
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 14, 2011
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It is the equivalent of shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic...
The moratorium is an agreement written on paper and will not change the outcome of what is actually
happening on the ground in Indonesia...
Eventually Indonesia will become like Haiti, a totally deforested wasteland full of poverty
stricken people.
Poachers and smugglers will continue to pay their kickback bribes and destroy what little remains of
their forest.
Man is not a rational creature when it comes to delayed gratification... The human race has shown
itself to be selfish and short sighted when it comes to saving a forest treasure for future
generations...
The best we can hope for is that a giant meteor will wipe out the human race and allow nature to
start again...
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's moratorium on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 23, 2011
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Grand Inquisitor, I appreciate your perspective and share your belief that man has proven himself to
be quite selfish and short-sighted. In far too many ways, we have lost the wisdom of indigenous
peoples. At one time, decisions were weighed by whole communities in the context of how they would
affect future generations (i.e., the "seventh generation" philosophy). Now it seems many decisions
are made simply in the context of how they will affect the next shareholder's meeting. That being
said, I prefer to take a more optimistic view of what we can hope for and work towards to make a
better future. Surely with the great ingenuity and compassion the human mind and heart are capable
of, extinction of the human race is not the only hope for nature to flourish.
Below is a very thorough, recent article on the moratorium by the World Resources Institute. It is
a worthwhile read for anyone with any interest in conservation and sustainable development in
Indonesia. Many links embedded within it. Check it out:
Ind
onesia's Moratorium: An Opportunity for Forests and Industry WRI, Apr. 22, 2011
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-05-20 at 05:39 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Grand Inquisitor
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 25, 2011
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Steve, Thanks, your optimism gives me hope. You would make an excellent spokesman for GreenPeace or
WWF.
You could be their man in Washington D.C., earning an excellent salary, 401K and health benefits.
Attending meetings and parties with Political Power brokers. I don't know if it would accomplish
anything as far as making the world greener... But at least you could send your kids to a nice
University and you would surely drive a nice automobile...
As for me ? I am certainly a "Glass is half full" kind of guy.... I guess time will tell where we
are headed environmentally...
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 27, 2011
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Is Indonesia's Program to Stop Deforestation in Meltdown? The Investigative
Fund, 25 Apr. 2011
Grand Inquisitor, I almost prefer to use the word "realistic" over "optimistic." To me the word
optimism almost implies pipe dreams of fairness and equity. I believe we live in a fiercely
economically competitive world - fairness and equity aren't necessarily always respected. That
being said, I believe human beings are always coming up with unbelievable innovations that have the
potential to be huge positives for the environment and mankind. Like today, MIT researchers just
announced a huge leap in solar
efficiency due to enlisting the services of tiny viruses to perform detailed assembly work at
the microscopic level. Brilliant. Now that is what I am talking about!
As for organizations like Greenpeace and WWF, they can be absolutely excellent at raising public
awareness, but beyond that, they ultimately are not fundamentally changing the economics/politics to
favor environmental preservation, not pushing the boundaries of science as in the example I used,
nor offering real, macro-scale solutions to mankind's problems. Personally, my interests and
dedications lie in finding solutions that balance the environment, the economy and people's needs -
not in attending meetings with power brokers merely to attend meetings with power brokers. There is
an interesting book I read called Green Inc: An
Environmental Insider Reveals How a Good Cause Has Gone Bad" that addresses how large green
groups can get bloated, affiliate with quite paradoxical corporate/political entities, and end up
really neglecting - or worse, harming - the cause they initially set out to protect. The author
would most certainly agree with your assertion that such a job "would not accomplish anything as far
as making the world greener."
As for the kids and a fancy car - no intention to have kids and my main car is, and always will be,
my bike. I do 32-48 km a day when the weather is agreeable, and I'll keep doing it until I bite the
dust - literally or figuratively 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-04-27 at 12:58 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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Grand Inquisitor
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Re: Indonesia's "moratorium" on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
Apr 27, 2011
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Steve... You strike me as the "real-deal" my friend... and I hope you get the chance to put your
philosophy and ethics to work for the good of the planet.
Being given the chance, or earning the opportunity to prove oneself in the field of Environmentalism
may be as simple as being in the right place at the right time or knowing the right contacts...
In your case I am certain it will be dedication and enthusiasm...
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Steve Patriarco
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Re: Indonesia's moratorium on new forest concessions (a thread for details + discussion)
May 20, 2011
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I am very happy to report that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono signed the moratorium after a
five-month delay. It went into effect on Friday, May 20th.
Factbox: Indonesia's moratorium on forest clearance Reuters, May 20, 2011
I am still analyzing the details, but I believe one thing is certain: despite the list of
exemptions - which is somewhat longer than expected - this is absolutely a step in the right
direction. I encourage people to read the above article, to learn what the moratorium does and does
not apply to (which the article addresses) and to formulate their own thoughts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
The time to act is NOW. For
the orangutans, for the global climate, and for the rural people that have depended on these forests
for generations. Please, help me help them by
watching this brief video, and thank you!
This post was edited on: 2011-05-20 at 05:54 PM by: Steve Patriarco
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