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.