UNDP, EC launch program to preserve tropical forests<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java<\/p>\n
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the European
\nCommission (EC) launched a joint program on Tuesday to preserve
\nthe country's rapidly shrinking tropical forests and improve the
\nliving standards of communities in forested areas.<\/p>\n
The EC has allocated around 1.2 million Euro (Rp 15.5 billion)
\nfor the Small Grants Program for Operations to Promote Tropical
\nForests (SGP PTF) for a two-year term.<\/p>\n
The program will cover all forested areas in Java and some
\nforested areas in South Sumatra and Central Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
\"Aceh and North Sumatra have also been included in the program
\nin response to the recent tsunami disaster,\" UNDP environment
\nunit head in Jakarta Budhi Sayoko said.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental and community-based organizations, customary
\ncommunities, tribal communities and small community-based
\nbusiness entities are eligible for grants under the program.<\/p>\n
\"We have received around 86 proposals from non-governmental
\norganizations (NGOs), which will be tightly screened based on
\nfactors such as their integrity, and the project's scope and
\nability to lift the surrounding community's welfare,\" said
\nprogram coordinator Elaine Pingkan Slamet.<\/p>\n
She said the projects would last for two years and are slated
\nto start in July.<\/p>\n
The program could be extended for five years if it is
\neffective and successful, SGP PTF National Steering Committee
\nchairman Effendy Sumardja added.<\/p>\n
The SGP PTF has been established in line with one of the five
\ngoals set by the Ministry of Forestry during the 2004-2009
\nperiod, to improve the welfare of people living in forested
\nareas.<\/p>\n
\"It is impossible to sustain forests and ignore the welfare of
\nthe surrounding communities, and vice versa,\" said Koes
\nSaparijadi, the director general of conservation at the forestry
\nministry.<\/p>\n
\"A forest should be conserved and protected. Therefore, future
\necosystem development goals must take into consideration
\neconomic, cultural and social values in order to promote
\ncommunity welfare,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Head of the EC's development cooperation division Vernond
\nCopeland said European countries hoped to support civil society
\ndirectly through development programs in sustainable forest
\nmanagement.<\/p>\n
According to SGP PTF regional coordinator Mark Sandiford,
\npeople living around forests are generally poor and are often
\nemployed seasonally as illegal loggers, despite the risks that
\nsuch work entails.<\/p>\n
\"This is extremely dangerous as they could be killed, arrested
\nor attacked by other groups. We offer alternatives, so that once
\nthe programs are established and they are educated, they can
\nresist,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Effendy Sumardja concurred with Sandiford, saying the program
\nwas aimed at helping curb widespread illegal logging across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"We hope that once educated, locals can act as watchdogs
\nagainst illegal logging,\" he said. (005)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/undp-ec-launch-program-to-preserve-tropical-forests-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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