The panoramic Karst mountins of Sangkulirang-Mangkalihat in East Kalimantan. (Jaka Setia)

The Nature Conservancy looks back on milestones, sets up new initiatives as a leading sustainability partner.

Our earth is very fragile and is facing risks from a climate change phenomenon referred to as global warming, where the earth’s surface temperature rises.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported in 2014 that scientists were more than 95 percent certain that global warming was largely being caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases and other human (anthropogenic) activities. Climate model projections summarized in the report indicated that during the 21st century, the global surface temperature is likely to rise a further 0.3 to 1.7 degrees Celsius in the lowest emissions scenario with stringent mitigation efforts and 2.6 to 4.8 degrees Celsius at the highest.

Global warming carries several serious consequences, namely the depletion of resources, illnesses as well as threats to biodiversity caused by the extinction of several species.

One of the main causes of global warming is deforestation. According to a 2013 research report on deforestation utilizing high-resolution maps of earth produced by GoogleMaps — conducted by 15 US universities led by the University of Maryland, and assisted by Google and NASA — there was a global loss of 2.3 million square kilometers of forests between 2000 and 2012. It was balanced by a gain of only 800,000 square kilometers of new forests, with an increase of 2,101 square kilometers of forest loss each year.

Global environmental NGO The Nature Conservancy (TNC) stated that on the global level, 20 percent of the world’s remaining natural land is at risk of being converted for future development, including energy, mining, agriculture and urban expansion. Only 5 percent of this land has some level of protection.

Locally, environmental conservation is also extremely important in Indonesia, home to 10 percent of plant species, 12 percent of mammal species, 17 percent of all known bird species, 162 million hectares of forest, and 5.1 million hectares of coral reefs. The coral reefs themselves serve as habitat for approximately 600 hard coral species and 2,500 reef fish species.

Indonesia, unfortunately, has to deal with issues related to environmental destruction partly due to irresponsible economic practices. The country’s coral reefs, for example, are threatened by people who utilize dynamite to catch fish or other sea animals. Furthermore, according to the Maryland University-led study, Indonesia was one of the countries with the fastest deforestation rate, with a total area of 15.8 million hectares lost between 2000 and 2012, ranking fifth behind Russia, Brazil, the US and Canada.

TNC’s programs in Indonesia

TNC celebrates the 25th anniversary of its operations in Indonesia this year, while devising new strategies to step up conservation efforts in the country through its science-driven innovations. Globally, it has 65 years of experience in the field.

Currently, the organization is focusing on three different domains in Indonesia, namely terrestrial, coastal and ocean as well as fisheries programs. The programs promote conservation and natural resources management that can unlock sustainable development at scale – benefitting communities, companies, climate and country. This is done through collaborations among different stakeholders including governments, NGOs, corporations, local communities and academia to find common grounds and solutions to protect and manage natural resources. TNC is currently working in different sites with high conservation values across Indonesia, such as East and West Kalimantan, Bali, Southeast Sulawesi, East and West Nusa Tenggara, and West Papua.

The programs have achieved significant results.

TNC supports the Berau District Government in East Kalimantan to design and implement the Berau Forest Carbon Program in 2008, which now serves as a model for jurisdictional low-carbon development in Indonesia and a centerpiece of how Indonesia can measure forest carbon emission reduction.

With partners, the organization supported more than 15 timber concession holders in East Kalimantan to obtain mandatory and voluntary certification, and is now assisting 6 other concession holders in their efforts to obtain voluntary certification. In total the organization has assisted the certification of 1.2 million hectares of production forests, and soon to be followed with 300,000 hectares more.

TNC’s approach SIGAP, an acronym for “inspiring actions by communities for change” is created to empower villages to better protect and manage their forests as well as improving their livelihoods. This has been successfully piloted in 2 villages, and currently being replicated in 24 villages.

Together with the national and regional governments in East Kalimantan, 6 companies and the Wehea customary community, TNC supports the protection of more than 300,000 hectares of forest in the Wehea landscape, home to 1,000 orangutans,

TNC supports the Indonesian government in establishing and managing effectively close to 6 million hectares of marine protected areas (MPAs), contributing to the Indonesian government’s plan to establish 20 million hectares of MPAs by 2020, and creating a pilot marine spatial plan for the 35 million hectare Lesser Sunda Ecoregion.

 Working with fishing companies, fisher communities and the government, the organization is putting mechanisms - such as data-poor stock assessment and fish traceability methods - in place that will result in sustainable and profitable fisheries, healthy fish stocks, and healthy ecosystems.

 Mainstreaming environmental conservation

Apart from concrete programs implemented in the field, the organization also disseminates knowledge and lessons learned about conservation and sustainable use of natural resources to the wider public through strategic regular forums such as Thought Leaders Forum (TLF). This forum provides a platform for learning exchanges and networking, where companies, environmentalists, scientists, and government officials can share their experience and ideas related to conservation and valuing nature. The TLFs features prominent speakers who are publicly regarded as leaders in their respective fields.

This year the organization introduces Conservation Leaders Community (CLC), a hub for like-minded, influential individuals concerned about Indonesia’s natural asset and who has the passion to be part of the solution in addressing Indonesia’s biggest environmental challenges.

Moving forward, by combining development and conservation together, TNC’s Green Growth and Blue Growth by Design programs will advance the sustainable management of 20 million hectares of  forests and oceans in ways that will increase economic growth and conserve natural resources. TNC also aims to use the SIGAP approach in empowering local communities in 600 villages across Indonesia to protect and manage their natural resources.

TNC Indonesia Program’s Country Director Rizal Algamar emphasizes that the Indonesia we depend on depends on all of us. “Together, let us build a sustainable future for Indonesia.”

This article is jointly prepared by The Jakarta Post and The Nature Conservancy.

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