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Will Indonesia's new forest pact with Norway open door to more funding?
Indonesia abruptly ended its previous accord with Norway a year ago, due to apparent disagreements and slow progress in releasing payments based on the results of work to curb forest loss.
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A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Indonesia and Norway was signed by Minister for Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar (center) and Norway’s Minister for Climate and the Environment Mr. Espen Barth Eide in support of Indonesia’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Also present in the ceremony is Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (left) (The Jakarta Post/Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment)
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new funding pact between Indonesia and Norway to cut carbon emissions by protecting and restoring rainforest should kick-start similar deals between the Southeast Asian country and rich nations, said green groups, which broadly back the partnership.
Indonesia abruptly ended its previous accord with Norway a year ago, due to apparent disagreements and slow progress in releasing payments based on the results of work to curb forest loss.
The new five-year collaboration, outlined in a memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked by ministers in Jakarta last week, will provide annual payments in line with evidence showing emissions from deforestation have been avoided or reduced through conservation efforts.
The money - totalling roughly $1 billion - will go into an environment fund managed by Indonesia.
"Strong communication, data-sharing and transparency will be key elements to making (the partnership) a success," said Aditya Bayunanda, acting chief executive of green group WWF Indonesia.
"This also helps pave the way for donor funding from other countries to help support the restoration and conservation of Indonesia's forests," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Worldwide, tropical forest losses amounted to 3.75 million hectares (9.3 million acres) last year, a rate equal to 10 football pitches a minute, according to satellite monitoring service Global Forest Watch (GFW).
