U.S. endorses project to help forests in RI

U.S. endorses project to help forests in RI

WASHINGTON (Reuter): In a move to help stem global warming, the U.S. Energy Department Monday endorsed a project to curb damage to forests in Indonesia.

Under the privately-financed project, California-based consultant COPEC and Washington-based American Forests will introduce new logging techniques in 600 hectares of forest on two private logging concessions in East Kalimantan.

The Energy Department said damage from logging operations in the tropics often goes far beyond the actual number of trees harvested, wiping out trees that can absorb carbon emissions which are believed to contribute to global warming.

By pre-cutting vines, felling directionally, and removing timber on proper skid rails, damage could be cut in half, saving trees that could absorb about 56,400 metric tons of carbon emissions over 40 years, the department said.

The project falls under the U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation, which now has 25 programs in 11 countries encouraging U.S. organizations to use new technologies and practices to reduce greenhouse gases and promote development.

"It's just a drop in the bucket," said Kurt Zwally, Asian coordinator for the U.S. Initiative on Joint Implementation, referring to the project's role in absorbing carbon emissions.

"Right now, we're just trying to develop this concept."

In ongoing international climate change talks, the Clinton administration is promoting the benefits of curbing emissions in other countries as a way for industrialized countries to meet targets for reducing their own carbon emissions.

Indonesian partners in the project are the Association of Indonesian Forest Concession Holders and the Kiani Lestari and Inhutani II Concessionaries on the island of Kalimantan.