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Reportage: Locals claim they are uniformed about REDD
Despite recent claims by the government of major victories in securing climate financing from several countries to stop deforestation, many relevant communities remain unaware of these potentially lucrative deals currently being negotiated
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espite recent claims by the government of major victories in securing climate financing from several countries to stop deforestation, many relevant communities remain unaware of these potentially lucrative deals currently being negotiated.
"The forest is part of our lives - it gives us our living. So, with or without money, we will protect our forest," Sarwevin, former head of Jahanjang village of Katingan regency in Central Kalimantan, said.
Asked if he had heard of the reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) scheme currently being negotiated by the government, Sarwevin said "So far, nobody has informed us about it *REDD*."
"My understanding is that all money *from carbon credit schemes* will be used to finance Indonesia's foreign debt."
While serving as village head from 1996-2008, Sarwevin attended several meetings on forest issues in Katingan regency.
Currently, 178 families live in Jahanjang, which is located on the banks of the Katingan River. Many of the residents are former illegal loggers.
Sarwevin said the community was still facing land ownership problems. "What we know is that all of the forest within 8 kilometers of the river belongs to the local people," he said.
Suganda, a resident of Karuwing village, said the community had relied on local knowledge to protect the forest, including from fire. "But we have never received any incentive for these efforts to protect the forest," he said.
The two villages lie 80 kilometers from Kasongan, the capital of Katingan regency, and are about three hours away from the city by boat.
Experts said that local people living near the forest could monitor the forest if it became a REDD area.
Under REDD, forest nations would be compensated by developed nations through a carbon credit scheme for preventing deforestation. Indonesia has run pilot projects of REDD, including in Kalimantan.
Indonesia was the first country to issue a regulation on REDD allowing indigenous peoples, local authorities, private organizations and businesspeople - both local and foreign - to operate REDD projects.
The government, however, has not announced how it would use revenue from REDD.
The secretary-general of the Alliance of Archipelagic Indigenous People, Abdon Nababan, said earlier that the alliance would reject the REDD unless the government guaranteed their right to earn their living from local forests.
- JP/Adianto P. Simamora
