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AKARTA: The performance of the REDD taskforce led by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto has been slow, according to one forestry and mining NGO.

The taskforce was established to plan and execute, among other things, the US$1 billion agreement between Indonesia and Norway on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD plus).

Elfian Effendi from Greenomics Indonesia said the taskforce had yet to perform well. Established on Sept. 20, the taskforce was supposed to complete its work by Dec. 31, or could be extended until June.

“There should have been clear action, such as a national strategy on REDD signed by the deputy chairman of National Planning Development Board and a national action plan on the greenhouse effect, by Dec. 31. If those two documents are not available, then there won’t be a clarity on legal mechanism for moratorium of peatland and forest conversions,” he said in a press release.

He said that the taskforce should do its work because tardiness could affect Indonesia’s promise to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 41 percent. — JP