Asia Pacific to tackle environment problems<\/p>\n
Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
Environmentalists from Asia and the Pacific agreed on Monday to
\nbe collectively responsible for tackling forest fires, which have
\nbecome a chronic environmental problem for Indonesia and its
\nneighbors during the past decade.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the second Asia-Pacific Forum for Environment and
\nDevelopment (APFED) former Indonesian environment minister Emil
\nSalim said single countries alone were unable to cope with the
\nenvironmental degradation common in the region.<\/p>\n
\"The annual forest fires in Indonesia no longer affect us
\nonly, because the smoke spreads to neighboring countries. It has
\nalso created what experts call 'Asia's brown haze', which poses a
\nthreat to the whole region,\" Emil said after officiating the two-
\nday forum here.<\/p>\n
Emil, who is also an internationally recognized expert on
\nsustainable development, said the time had come for countries and
\ntheir communities to work together to find solutions for
\nenvironmental problems.<\/p>\n
\"Through this forum we expect to find applicable solutions for
\nkey issues -- fresh water resources, renewable energy, trade,
\nfinance and urbanization,\" he said. \"We are seeking a regional
\nsolution rather than a national-level one.\"<\/p>\n
APFED chairwoman and former Japanese environmental and foreign
\naffairs minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said developed and developing
\ncountries across the region should assist each other in
\npreventing the further deterioration of the environment.<\/p>\n
\"If forest fires in Indonesia are caused by rampant illegal
\nlogging, countries that import timber from Indonesia should stop
\nthe practice if the timber is generated from illegally felled
\ntrees,\" Kawaguchi said.<\/p>\n
APFED was established at a ministerial meeting during the
\nEnvironment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO Asia) 2001 to
\nidentify critical environment and development issues.<\/p>\n
The forum consists of representatives from 26 member
\ncountries.<\/p>\n
Kawaguchi said the forum would introduce the APFED Innovative
\nShowcase for Sustainable Development, which aimed to provide
\nopportunities for pilot innovations carried out in Asia-Pacific
\ncountries to receive intellectual support from APFED and its
\nnetwork.<\/p>\n
APFED documents plan for about 15 projects to be showcased a
\nyear, each receiving US$35,000 in development money.<\/p>\n
The United Nations Environment Program had provided the funds
\nto finance the program, Kawaguchi said.<\/p>\n
She also said the forum was committed to creating a collection
\nof best-policy practices in the region and developing a
\nknowledge-sharing database.<\/p>\n
APFED documents show that as of June, 163 best practices have
\nbeen recommended by its members.<\/p>\n
\"To disseminate best practices, APFED will also propose an
\naward program so that knowledge can be extended to a larger
\naudience,\" she said.<\/p>\n
The proposed award program offers cash prizes from $2,000 to
\n$20,000 to organizations that apply best practices in sustainable
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
The money is to be used to support publicity campaigns to
\ndisseminate these policies.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/asia-pacific-to-tackle-environment-problems-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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