Asia Pacific to tackle environment problems

Asia Pacific to tackle environment problems

Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java

Environmentalists from Asia and the Pacific agreed on Monday to
be collectively responsible for tackling forest fires, which have
become a chronic environmental problem for Indonesia and its
neighbors during the past decade.

Speaking at the second Asia-Pacific Forum for Environment and
Development (APFED) former Indonesian environment minister Emil
Salim said single countries alone were unable to cope with the
environmental degradation common in the region.

"The annual forest fires in Indonesia no longer affect us
only, because the smoke spreads to neighboring countries. It has
also created what experts call 'Asia's brown haze', which poses a
threat to the whole region," Emil said after officiating the two-
day forum here.

Emil, who is also an internationally recognized expert on
sustainable development, said the time had come for countries and
their communities to work together to find solutions for
environmental problems.

"Through this forum we expect to find applicable solutions for
key issues -- fresh water resources, renewable energy, trade,
finance and urbanization," he said. "We are seeking a regional
solution rather than a national-level one."

APFED chairwoman and former Japanese environmental and foreign
affairs minister Yoriko Kawaguchi said developed and developing
countries across the region should assist each other in
preventing the further deterioration of the environment.

"If forest fires in Indonesia are caused by rampant illegal
logging, countries that import timber from Indonesia should stop
the practice if the timber is generated from illegally felled
trees," Kawaguchi said.

APFED was established at a ministerial meeting during the
Environment Congress for Asia and the Pacific (ECO Asia) 2001 to
identify critical environment and development issues.

The forum consists of representatives from 26 member
countries.

Kawaguchi said the forum would introduce the APFED Innovative
Showcase for Sustainable Development, which aimed to provide
opportunities for pilot innovations carried out in Asia-Pacific
countries to receive intellectual support from APFED and its
network.

APFED documents plan for about 15 projects to be showcased a
year, each receiving US$35,000 in development money.

The United Nations Environment Program had provided the funds
to finance the program, Kawaguchi said.

She also said the forum was committed to creating a collection
of best-policy practices in the region and developing a
knowledge-sharing database.

APFED documents show that as of June, 163 best practices have
been recommended by its members.

"To disseminate best practices, APFED will also propose an
award program so that knowledge can be extended to a larger
audience," she said.

The proposed award program offers cash prizes from $2,000 to
$20,000 to organizations that apply best practices in sustainable
development.

The money is to be used to support publicity campaigns to
disseminate these policies.