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.