ICRAF says agroforestry is part of Indonesia's local wisdom

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF/World Agroforestry) regards agroforestry as part of Indonesia’s local wisdom in responsible and sustainable forest management. ‘We see that agroforestry in Indonesia is more than just planting trees among them. It is a land-use strategy that bridges the gap between conservation and production,’ said ICRAF CEO Eliane Ubalijoro in Jakarta on Thursday. Furthermore, Ubalijoro provided several examples of agroforestry in Indonesia, such as Repong agroforestry system from Lampung and Mamar from Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). ‘All of these are examples of the wisdom possessed in Indonesia. This is an authentic solution that is very effective and has been reviewed by experts for years,’ she said. Drawing on the rich, inherited knowledge and local culture relating to forest management in Indonesia, Ubalijoro said it was important for the government—in this case the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Kemenhut)—and ICRAF to mutually support each other. One of the steps recently taken is the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two sides focused on several areas of work, including support for sustainable forest management, the development of innovative funding for the forestry sector, the development of forest areas with specific objectives, the digitalisation of the forestry sector, and the socio-economic development of forest communities. ‘We see socio-economic development ultimately aimed at ensuring we have prosperous communities and how social forestry must be a engine of local economic growth,’ Ubalijoro said. In addition, she said that sustainable and just forest development aligns with Indonesia’s vision outlined in the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2029 and Indonesia Emas 2045. ‘We want Indonesia to be a leader worldwide that shows the way to us, not only for all countries but especially for archipelagic nations around the world that are highly fragile and heavily dependent on natural ecosystems,’ she said. ‘Together we will not only plant trees, but grow a future for Indonesia to 2045. We see this collaboration as the key to leadership and to bringing hope on Earth,’ she added.