PIDATO PEMBUKAAN
PRESIDEN SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO
PADA KOFERENSI TINGKAT TINGGI KE-19 ASEAN
BALI NUSA DUA CONVENTION CENTER
17 NOVEMBER 2011
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Salam sejahtera untuk kita semua,
Om Swastiastu,
Yang Mulia, para kepala negara dan kepala pemerintahan negara-negara anggota ASEAN,
Yang Mulia, Dr. Surin Pitsuwan, Sekretaris Jenderal ASEAN,
Yang saya hormati, para Pemimpin Lembaga- Lembaga Negara, dan para menteri negara- negara anggota ASEAN,
Yang saya hormati, para Perwakilan Tetap dan Duta Besar untuk ASEAN,
Yang saya hormati, Saudara Gubernur Bali, I Made Mangku Pastika,
Para anggota delegasi dan hadirin sekalian yang saya muliakan,
Atas nama pemerintah dan rakyat Indonesia, saya mengucapkan selamat datang, kepada para Kepala Negara dan Kepala Pemerintahan, yang datang dari negara-negara anggota ASEAN. Kehadiran Yang Mulia sekalian akan semakin memperkokoh kerja sama di kawasan Asia Tenggara, yang saat ini tengah bergerak maju menuju Komunitas ASEAN 2015.
Dalam kesempatan ini, saya secara pribadi maupun dalam kapasitas sebagai Ketua ASEAN, ingin menyampaikan keprihatinan serta rasa duka yang mendalam atas bencana banjir yang melanda beberapa negara anggota ASEAN. Musibah yang memilukan ini telah menimbulkan kerugian harta benda yang besar, dan bahkan menelan ratusan korban jiwa. Bantuan dan uluran tangan yang telah kita berikan kepada para korban tak lain adalah wujud solidaritas sesama ASEAN.
Selanjutnya, saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih dan penghargaan atas dukungan penuh dan kerja sama dari seluruh negara anggota ASEAN selama masa keketuaan Indonesia. Keberhasilan penyelenggaraan KTT ke-18 ASEAN di Jakarta, dan sama halnya keberhasilan penyelenggaraan SEA Games tahun 2011 di Palembang dan Jakarta adalah berkat dukungan yang diberikan tersebut.
Dengan dukungan tersebut kita telah menghasilkan banyak capaian, sejak diselenggarakannya KTT-18 ASEAN di Jakarta bulan Mei lalu. Saya meyakini, dukungan serupa akan diberikan dalam penyelenggaraan KTT ke-19 di Pulau Bali ini.
Pulau Bali memiliki makna historis yang khusus bagi kerja sama ASEAN, karena di sinilah tercapai beberapa kesepakatan penting, yang menjadi pijakan arah perkembangan kerja sama ASEAN. Pada tahun 1976, telah dilahirkan Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC), yang dikenal dengan Bali Concord I. Dokumen tersebut mengatur pola perilaku antar negara anggota, khususnya untuk tidak menggunakan kekerasan dan mengedepankan cara- cara damai. Semangat yang tertuang dalam TAC tersebut telah pula diterima oleh banyak negara non-ASEAN, dan hingga saat ini sebanyak 29 negara telah menjadi negara pihak pada TAC.
Pada tahun 2003, Bali kembali mencatat sejarah dengan dilahirkannya Bali Concord II. Melalui Bali Concord II ini negara-negara ASEAN bersepakat untuk membangun komunitas berdasarkan tiga pilar: pilar politik dan keamanan, pilar ekonomi, dan pilar sosial budaya. Kita bergembira bahwa pasca Bali Concord II, ASEAN kemudian menyepakati ASEAN Charter yang mengukuhkan ASEAN sebagai rule-based organization.
KTT ASEAN kali ini, insya Allah, akan melahirkan Bali Concord III, yang akan memetakan jalan ke depan bagi interaksi komunitas ASEAN dengan komunitas global bangsa-bangsa. Hal ini sesungguhnya sejalan dengan tradisi kerja sama ASEAN selama ini yang selalu membuka diri terhadap dunia luar, seperti melalui mekanisme dialog ASEAN dengan mitra wicaranya dan forum strategis seperti ARF. Semangat dari Bali Concord III adalah partisipasi dan kontribusi ASEAN yang semakin besar bagi pembangunan dunia yang lebih damai, lebih adil, lebih demokratis dan lebih sejahtera, termasuk peran aktif ASEAN untuk ikut mengatasi berbagai permasalahan fundamental dewasa ini.
Yang Mulia,
Hadirin sekalian,
Kita berkumpul pada saat dunia dihadapkan pada satu proses perubahan yang berdampak luas pada kehidupan umat manusia. Di Timur Tengah dan Afrika Utara transformasi sistem sosial dan politik melalui Arab Spring terus berproses. Sementara itu, dunia pun dihadapkan pada ancaman krisis ekonomi global baru akibat gejolak keuangan di Eurozone. Kita sama-sama mengikuti bahwa masalah krisis keuangan ini menjadi agenda pembahasan dalam KTT G20 di Cannes dan KTT APEC di Honolulu baru-baru ini. Sementara itu, di samping ketidakpastian baru yang menghantui perekonomian dunia, permasalahan dan tantangan yang fundamental juga masih kita hadapi, seperti ketahanan pangan, energi dan air; perubahan iklim; bencana alam, serta dampak revolusi teknologi informasi pada kehidupan masyarakat kita.
Di tengah ''pancaroba'' ini banyak harapan ditumpukan pada kawasan kita. Sejarah telah menguji dan membuktikan bahwa ASEAN kian menjadi asosiasi yang matang, yang mampu menciptakan stabilitas dan keamanan kawasan, mampu meningkatkan kekuatan ekonominya, serta mampu menjadi komunitas yang makin people-centered dan mampu pula menjalin kerukunan antar indentitas dan peradaban yang beragam. Dengan modal dan posisi ini, saya percaya ASEAN mampu untuk berkontribusi dalam merespon berbagai dinamika global tersebut. Hal ini sejalan dengan tema Keketuaan Indonesia di ASEAN tahun ini: “Komunitas ASEAN di antara Komunitas Global Bangsa-bangsa.” Maknanya, ASEAN ingin berperan lebih besar dalam urusan dunia: to outreach to the world.
Berangkat dari tema ini, saya ingin menggarisbawahi lima hal pokok yang perlu dibahas pada rangkaian kegiatan KTT ke-19 ASEAN dan KTT terkait lainnya.
Pertama, kita perlu melakukan langkah-langkah konkrit guna memperkuat ketiga pilar Komunitas ASEAN. Kita harus memastikan tercapainya seluruh Rencana Aksi di ketiga pilar tercatat secara seimbang dan saling mengisi, sebelum 2015.
Pembangunan Komunitas ASEAN harus terus melibatkan segenap pemangku kepentingan di kawasan. ASEAN harus menjadi komunitas yang people-oriented, people-centered, dan people-driven. Mereduksi makna komunitas ASEAN dengan cara menjadikan asosiasi ini sebagai urusan pemerintahan negara-negara anggota semata, ataupun hanya menitik beratkan pada kerjasama ekonomi, sungguhpun itu penting, adalah keliru.
Kedua, kita perlu memperkuat pertum- buhan ekonomi di kawasan.
Melalui pertumbuhan tersebut, kawasan kita akan lebih tahan (resilient) terhadap volatilitas perekonomian global. Lebih dari itu, daya tahan tersebut akan membuat kita mampu menjadi bagian dari solusi atas krisis keuangan dan ekonomi dunia saat ini. Kita juga akan mampu menyumbang pertumbuhan ekonomi global yang kuat, serta mampu membuat perekonomian global makin berimbang (more balanced global economy).
Saya bergembira bahwa ASEAN telah memiliki peta jalan untuk menjaga tingkat pertumbuhan, antara lain dengan membangun konektivitas (connectivity) antar negara dan antar kawasan. Kita harus memastikan realisasi dari Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity. Sama halnya, dalam kerangka nasional, Indonesia juga membangun konekti-vitas melalui MP3EI, untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi domestik serta membangun peluang untuk investasi, perdagangan dan penciptaan lapangan pekerjaan.
Dengan keterhubungan yang semakin efektif, maka perdagangan dan investasi antar negara akan meningkat. Tentunya yang kita tuju bersama adalah pertumbuhan ekonomi yang inklusif dan berkelanjutan. Kita berikan kesempatan yang adil bagi segenap warga kita untuk mendapatkan keuntungan dari semakin terintegrasinya perekonomian kawasan.
Ketiga, kita perlu mengambil peran utama dalam menata arsitektur kerja sama kawasan yang lebih efisien dan efektif.
ASEAN harus mampu mempertahankan sentralitas dan kepemimpinannya dalam berinteraksi dengan mitra wicara, dan dalam kesertaan ASEAN di forum-forum intra kawasan.
Kerja sama dengan para mitra ASEAN telah kita kembangkan melalui mekanisme ASEAN Plus Satu, ASEAN Plus Tiga, ASEAN Defense Ministerial Meeting Plus, dan ASEAN Regional Forum maupun mekanisme-mekanisme lainnya.
Sementara itu, dalam pembentukan arsitektur kawasan melalui kerangka East Asian Summit, kita perlu mengidentifikasi prinsip-prinsip bersama yang memandu hubungan seluruh negara peserta EAS. Melalui prinsip-prinsip itulah tata hubungan yang damai dan bersahabat tidak lagi terbatas pada Asia Tenggara, tetapi juga bagi negara-negara pelaku utama di kawasan Asia Timur ini. Kita membentuk East Asia Summit tentu bukan untuk menimbulkan perpecahan, tetapi justru untuk meningkat- kan persatuan dan kebersamaan.
Keempat, kita perlu menjaga stabilitas dan keamanan kawasan Asia Tenggara dan Asia Timur.
ASEAN harus senantiasa bertindak proaktif memfasilitasi dan melibatkan diri dalam penyelesaian berbagai ''residual issues'' yang selama ini menjadi faktor penghambat akselerasi kerja sama ASEAN. Dalam masa Keketuaan Indonesia, ASEAN memfasilitasi dialog damai masalah perbatasan antara Kamboja dan Thailand. Ke depan kita harus terus meningkatkan kapasitas dan kemampuan ASEAN dalam resolusi konflik.
Kita patut bergembira bahwa ASEAN juga mampu membangun comfort zones bagi banyak negara untuk berdialog mengenai isu-isu yang pelik. Sebagai ilustrasi, di sela-sela pertemuan ARF bulan Juli lalu, telah berlangsung pembicaraan antara dua negara bersaudara, Korea Utara dan Korea Selatan.
Selain itu, kesepakatan Guidelines on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea antara ASEAN dan RRT telah menumbuhkan optimisme dalam melihat permasalahan di Laut Cina Selatan.
Upaya kita meraih perdamaian dan stabilitas kawasan semakin maju dengan penerimaan negara-negara pemilik senjata nuklir terhadap kerangka kerja sama Zona Bebas Senjata Nuklir Asia Tenggara (SEANWFZ). Kita harus memanfaatkan momentum yang sangat baik ini untuk melaksanaan penandatanganan Protokol SEANWFZ sesegera mungkin.
Kelima, dengan melakukan keempat langkah yang saya sebutkan tadi secara bersamaan, maka kita akan memperkuat peran ASEAN secara global.
Dalam dunia yang semakin kompleks dan saling kait-mengait, ASEAN sejatinya harus menjadi yang terdepan dalam mengatasi berbagai tantangan yang mencuat. ASEAN tidak boleh hanya menjadi penonton pasif, yang rentan menjadi korban permasalahan di belahan dunia lainnya.
Kita berharap, Deklarasi Bali mengenai Komunitas ASEAN dalam Komunitas Global Bangsa-bangsa, akan menjadi petunjuk pelaksanaan dan landasan bersama kita, guna meningkatkan kontribusi ASEAN dalam penanganan isu-isu global.
Hadirin sekalian yang saya hormati,
Itulah agenda dan sasaran utama dalam rangakaian Pertemuan Puncak ASEAN tahun 2011 di Bali, Indonesia ini.
Akhirnya, seraya memohon ridho Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa, Allah SWT, KTT ke-19 ASEAN dan KTT terkait lainnya saya nyatakan dengan resmi dimulai.
Terima kasih,
Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Selasa, 22 November 2011
Kamis, 17 November 2011
Forest Conservation and Food Security
By: Jend. TNI (Purn.) Dr. H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, M.A.
(Presiden R.I., Lulusan Terbaik AKMIL Magelang, US Army Command & General Staff College, Webster University, Doktor Ekonomi Pertanian IPB)
Keynote Speech at The Forest Indonesia Conference: Alternative Futures to Meet Demands for Food, Fibre, Fuel and REDD+
SPEECH BY PRESIDENT
SUSILO BAMBANG YUDHOYONO
FORESTS INDONESIA CONFERENCE:
ALTERNATIVE FUTURES TO MEET DEMANDS FOR FOOD, FIBRE, FUEL AND REDD+
Bismillahirrahanirrahim,
Your Excellencies Minister Erik Solheim of Norway, and Minister Jim Paice [:jim peis] of the United Kingdom,
Your Honour Ms Frances Seymour, the Director General of CIFOR,
Excellencies Ministers and Ambassadors,
Chiefs of International Organizations,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, let me begin by welcoming all of you to this important Conference.
It is indeed an honour and pleasure for me and my Government, to be part of this important meeting. The theme of this conference, “Forest Indonesia: Alternative futures to meet the demands for food, fuel, fiber and REDD+” is very relevant and timely.
For Indonesia, like many other countries blessed with tropical forests, are facing the challenge of sustainably managing its vitally important forest resources.
Hence, let me congratulate the organizers, CIFOR and their partners, for bringing together—under one roof—forest stakeholders, from all over Indonesia and the world. We have among us government officials and representatives of NGOs, civil society as well as the business and academic communities.
We may have different backgrounds, but we all have known the pleasure of resting in the cool shade of a tree.
It would be nice if one day we could organize a conference like this in the open air, protected from the heat of the sun, by the green crown of sturdy trees.
I am glad that this Conference discussion and its outcome will be shared online by audiences worldwide—including the forthcoming COP-17 in Durban, South Africa. This will be an excellent opportunity for us to stress on the importance to walk the talk, and not just talk the talk.
On my part, I will continue my work and dedicate the last three years of my term as President, to deliver enduring results that will sustain and enhance the environment and forests of Indonesia.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Exactly six months ago, in this same hotel, I spoke before the participants to the Business for the Environment Conference, or B4E conference. During that meeting I dared the business world to think innovatively—to create a balance between gaining economic benefits and ensuring the preservation and sustainability of the global environment.
The aim of today’s meeting, logically, is to build upon the discussions held last April and re-affirm Indonesia''s pioneering role in harnessing forestry to the global effort to address climate change.
Indeed, forests are so dear to my heart, and I am sure all of you also hold it close to your hearts. Forests are so precious because in the first place, if it were not for their air-filtering trees, we would all be breathing in polluted air and living in a much hotter world.
If it weren’t for the shelter and food that forests provide, we would have scarce if any biodiversity at all. And the wonders of the animal world such as the Sumatran tiger, the rhinoceros and the orangutan would have gone extinct a long time ago.
And most importantly, if it weren’t for the benefits that our forests provide, then our way of life, our people, our economy, our environment and our society would be so much poorer.
Hence, the core of my message today is that our success in managing our forests will determine our future and the opportunities that will be available to our children.
And yet, our forests remain under tremendous pressure.
Globally we are facing the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. Global warming increasingly threatens our livelihood and even our very survival. On top of that, because we are facing another global financial crisis, nations may lose vigour in meeting their environment-related commitments.
As a developing nation, we prioritize the promotion of growth and the eradication of poverty. But we will not achieve these goal by sacrificing our forests. We must attain both development and the management of our forests-- simultaneously.
This is because forest management is tightly intertwined with the livelihood of our people, with our food security, with the availability of wood and fuel. It is also closely linked with climate change.
Therefore we need to take bold initiatives through close collaboration and partnership with all stakeholders.
We must change the way we treat our forests, so that they are conserved even as we drive hard to accelerate our economic growth. We must intensify our efforts to cut down emissions from land use, land use change and forestry exploitation. These factors account for up to 85 percent of Indonesia’s entire greenhouse gas emissions.
I do not want to later explain to my granddaughter Almira, that we, in our time, could not save the forests and the people that depends on it. I do not want to tell her the sad news that tigers, rhinoceroses, and orangutans vanished like the dinosaurs.
And I am sure that none of you would want to deliver such grim news to your children and grandchildren. I am sure that you all want to see that those forests will still be there several decades from now—fascinating us with their beauty and the mysteries they hold. And still providing economic benefits while help stabilize the climate of planet Earth.
And I am also sure that you would like these forests to become our precious legacy for our children.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me now bring up a few questions that are relevant to your discussions in this meeting.
First, at the global level, what would Indonesia''s sustainable forests management efforts mean?
Indonesia’s tropical forests are the third largest in the world – and they are central to our economy, environment and society. Our forests host roughly 12 percent of the world''s mammals, 16 percent of its reptiles and amphibians and 17 percent of all bird species. Over 10,000 species of trees have been recorded across the archipelago. Each year many new species are discovered in Indonesia. This biological gift is intertwined with the rich cultural diversity of Indonesia''s forest.
Forests are the lynchpin to our biodiversity. They are home to bees, bats, birds, insects and other pollinators of the crops we plant. They also help regulate the quality and availability of water for irrigation. Forests provide foods, including seeds, leaves, fruits, roots, gums, mushrooms, and habitat for animals.
Indonesia, home to the third largest tropical forests in the world, views itself as the custodian of these great green treasures; and I want to keep it that way. So we are gathered here to deal collectively with those challenges to our forests.
My next question is then, why is sustainable forest management so important to Indonesia?
The first reason is food security. Indonesia’s 238 million citizens are under pressure of rising commodity prices. The Government of Indonesia is pursuing a programme to increase agricultural and forest productivity, particularly through the cultivation of critical and idle lands. In this regard, we have selected centers of rice production in several provinces throughout Indonesia. Indeed, the sustainability of forests is crucial to an abundant rice harvests.
Secondly, in the area of energy security, our forests are home to potential sources of energy such as micro-hydro, geo-thermal, and bio-energy. We are increasing the portion of alternative sources of energy in our energy-mix. Forest ecosystems offer competitive advantage by making possible the replacement of conventional fuels by renewable energy sources.
Thirdly, Indonesia is a major supplier of fiber. Indonesia’s land availability and the fast-growth of many tree species, supported by favorable tropical climate, have also increased the economic value of our forests.
Fourthly, forests make the terrain more resistant to landslides that threaten many communities. They are vital to efforts at mitigating and adapting to climate change, the impact of which is now being felt all over our archipelago and the rest of the world.
Also, our mangrove forests—the largest in the world—can protect coastal communities from the devastation that can be inflicted by storms and tsunamis. Moreover, mangrove forests serve as nurseries to many fish species that are of great commercial importance—and also crucial to our food security.
Lastly, through our efforts at reducing CO2 emissions, Indonesia can make a significant positive impact on the climate situation. In this regard, although our peat swamp forests are the largest in the world, they have suffered degradation. That has greatly diminished their capacity to reduce CO2 emissions. Restoration is therefore essential.
Hence, it is clear that Indonesia’s forests are of immense value. They offer us a lot of opportunities and benefits.
We therefore need to go into partnership with all stakeholders to sustainably manage our forest resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To ensure the sustainability of our forests while still meeting our development objectives, my Government has given priority to a set of policies and actions to safeguard our forests and ensure their sustainable management.
I made a pledge at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh that we in Indonesia will voluntarily reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent from business-as-usual levels by 2020. Since then, my Government has carried out many initiatives.
In 2010, we signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Norway to cut emissions by reducing deforestation and forest degradation. This is known as REDD Plus–a concept that was launched in Bali in 2007.
In May this year, I instituted a two-year moratorium on new licenses to exploit natural primary forest and all peat lands. About two weeks ago, I signed a Decree outlining more than 70 self-funded government programs. This is a demonstration of our commitment to reduce by 26 percent our projected emission in 2020 under a business as usual scenario.
These are groundbreaking steps, but they are not goals in themselves. They are simply measures that give us time and resources, to review and revise land use policy and practice. They also provide opportunity to develop a new sector in our economy—through ecosystem restoration concessions for carbon sequestration and emission reduction.
Apart from the moratorium, we have built indicative maps that are important to the implementation of REDD Plus, and to the formulation of wise policies related to forests. These maps will also facilitate the resolution of decades-long problems of land use and land tenure.
I have also signed a Decree to set up a Task Force for the establishment of a REDD+ agency as stated in the Letter of Intent. We are also developing a national strategy on REDD Plus. The strategy includes elements such as the establishment of REDD+ institutions, the formation of relevant financial mechanisms, monitoring and benefit-sharing. To this end, and to meet the REDD+ expected targets, global funding is necessary.
I am happy to inform you that there are now more than 40 REDD Plus pilot or demonstration projects across Indonesia. This makes us a pioneer in creative ways to address climate change. It also provides us with research insights that will enrich our discussions today, and at the forthcoming global negotiations in COP17 in Durban, South Africa.
Another initiative of ours is the Forest Eleven Forum that we launched four years ago, which has brought together major tropical forest countries. My Government has also pursued bilateral forestry cooperation with several countries.
In the light of international enthusiasm for sustainable forest management, our local stakeholders must also take an active role in this field. I call upon our business leaders, particularly those in the palm oil, pulp wood and mining sectors, to partner with us by enhancing the environmental sustainability of their operations.
Still another initiative is the provision of funding for small and medium enterprises run by forest-edge inhabitants, micro finance programmes for the rural poor and for women, and Local Development Projects (PNPM) for local villages.
At the grassroots level, we have also launched a massive campaign programme to plant one billion trees nation-wide annualy.
It is said that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I would like to say: “A billion trees a year shield the world’s lungs from decay.”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Despite our modest achievements, I am mindful that these efforts will only take us part of the way towards our emission reduction target.
A long journey still awaits us. We know we must do more, to address the primary sources of our greenhouse emissions, such as illegal logging, forest encroachment, forest and land fires, and peat land drainage. And indeed we are working hard and comprehensively to overcome these challenges.
At the same time, we are mainstreaming all these perspectives and commitments into a special development framework. Our endeavours to effectively protect the environment are reflected in a special 15-year Master Plan to accelerate and expand our economic development. This means that sustainable development is part and parcel of our efforts to boost Indonesia''s economy, so that it will become the 12th largest economy by 2025.
This meeting is of great value to Indonesia. It is a contribution to global efforts at protecting forests, and to the advance of the climate change discourse. I am especially pleased to see many business leaders here today, because they bring decades of experience to the table, and help to shape the future of our nation’s forests. I encourage all of you to forge greater cooperation with international partners.
I ask you to join me in pledging to safeguard this national treasure, for the sake of our children.
As I mentioned earlier, Indonesia, as custodian of one the largest tropical forests of the world, will continue to maintain a pro-environment growth strategy.
The task before us today is to chart a sustainable future for our forests and meet our development objectives. This is not an easy task. But we will pay a much higher price if we do not take up the challenge. By working hard together, we can help guarantee the future of our forests. And the future of our children and grandchildren.
That future begins now.
I thank you
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Shangri-la Hotel, Jakarta, 27-9-2011
It is indeed an honour and pleasure for me and my Government, to be part of this important meeting. The theme of this conference, “Forest Indonesia: Alternative futures to meet the demands for food, fuel, fiber and REDD+” is very relevant and timely.
For Indonesia, like many other countries blessed with tropical forests, are facing the challenge of sustainably managing its vitally important forest resources.
Hence, let me congratulate the organizers, CIFOR and their partners, for bringing together—under one roof—forest stakeholders, from all over Indonesia and the world. We have among us government officials and representatives of NGOs, civil society as well as the business and academic communities.
We may have different backgrounds, but we all have known the pleasure of resting in the cool shade of a tree.
It would be nice if one day we could organize a conference like this in the open air, protected from the heat of the sun, by the green crown of sturdy trees.
I am glad that this Conference discussion and its outcome will be shared online by audiences worldwide—including the forthcoming COP-17 in Durban, South Africa. This will be an excellent opportunity for us to stress on the importance to walk the talk, and not just talk the talk.
On my part, I will continue my work and dedicate the last three years of my term as President, to deliver enduring results that will sustain and enhance the environment and forests of Indonesia.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Exactly six months ago, in this same hotel, I spoke before the participants to the Business for the Environment Conference, or B4E conference. During that meeting I dared the business world to think innovatively—to create a balance between gaining economic benefits and ensuring the preservation and sustainability of the global environment.
The aim of today’s meeting, logically, is to build upon the discussions held last April and re-affirm Indonesia''s pioneering role in harnessing forestry to the global effort to address climate change.
Indeed, forests are so dear to my heart, and I am sure all of you also hold it close to your hearts. Forests are so precious because in the first place, if it were not for their air-filtering trees, we would all be breathing in polluted air and living in a much hotter world.
If it weren’t for the shelter and food that forests provide, we would have scarce if any biodiversity at all. And the wonders of the animal world such as the Sumatran tiger, the rhinoceros and the orangutan would have gone extinct a long time ago.
And most importantly, if it weren’t for the benefits that our forests provide, then our way of life, our people, our economy, our environment and our society would be so much poorer.
Hence, the core of my message today is that our success in managing our forests will determine our future and the opportunities that will be available to our children.
And yet, our forests remain under tremendous pressure.
Globally we are facing the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. Global warming increasingly threatens our livelihood and even our very survival. On top of that, because we are facing another global financial crisis, nations may lose vigour in meeting their environment-related commitments.
As a developing nation, we prioritize the promotion of growth and the eradication of poverty. But we will not achieve these goal by sacrificing our forests. We must attain both development and the management of our forests-- simultaneously.
This is because forest management is tightly intertwined with the livelihood of our people, with our food security, with the availability of wood and fuel. It is also closely linked with climate change.
Therefore we need to take bold initiatives through close collaboration and partnership with all stakeholders.
We must change the way we treat our forests, so that they are conserved even as we drive hard to accelerate our economic growth. We must intensify our efforts to cut down emissions from land use, land use change and forestry exploitation. These factors account for up to 85 percent of Indonesia’s entire greenhouse gas emissions.
I do not want to later explain to my granddaughter Almira, that we, in our time, could not save the forests and the people that depends on it. I do not want to tell her the sad news that tigers, rhinoceroses, and orangutans vanished like the dinosaurs.
And I am sure that none of you would want to deliver such grim news to your children and grandchildren. I am sure that you all want to see that those forests will still be there several decades from now—fascinating us with their beauty and the mysteries they hold. And still providing economic benefits while help stabilize the climate of planet Earth.
And I am also sure that you would like these forests to become our precious legacy for our children.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me now bring up a few questions that are relevant to your discussions in this meeting.
First, at the global level, what would Indonesia''s sustainable forests management efforts mean?
Indonesia’s tropical forests are the third largest in the world – and they are central to our economy, environment and society. Our forests host roughly 12 percent of the world''s mammals, 16 percent of its reptiles and amphibians and 17 percent of all bird species. Over 10,000 species of trees have been recorded across the archipelago. Each year many new species are discovered in Indonesia. This biological gift is intertwined with the rich cultural diversity of Indonesia''s forest.
Forests are the lynchpin to our biodiversity. They are home to bees, bats, birds, insects and other pollinators of the crops we plant. They also help regulate the quality and availability of water for irrigation. Forests provide foods, including seeds, leaves, fruits, roots, gums, mushrooms, and habitat for animals.
Indonesia, home to the third largest tropical forests in the world, views itself as the custodian of these great green treasures; and I want to keep it that way. So we are gathered here to deal collectively with those challenges to our forests.
My next question is then, why is sustainable forest management so important to Indonesia?
The first reason is food security. Indonesia’s 238 million citizens are under pressure of rising commodity prices. The Government of Indonesia is pursuing a programme to increase agricultural and forest productivity, particularly through the cultivation of critical and idle lands. In this regard, we have selected centers of rice production in several provinces throughout Indonesia. Indeed, the sustainability of forests is crucial to an abundant rice harvests.
Secondly, in the area of energy security, our forests are home to potential sources of energy such as micro-hydro, geo-thermal, and bio-energy. We are increasing the portion of alternative sources of energy in our energy-mix. Forest ecosystems offer competitive advantage by making possible the replacement of conventional fuels by renewable energy sources.
Thirdly, Indonesia is a major supplier of fiber. Indonesia’s land availability and the fast-growth of many tree species, supported by favorable tropical climate, have also increased the economic value of our forests.
Fourthly, forests make the terrain more resistant to landslides that threaten many communities. They are vital to efforts at mitigating and adapting to climate change, the impact of which is now being felt all over our archipelago and the rest of the world.
Also, our mangrove forests—the largest in the world—can protect coastal communities from the devastation that can be inflicted by storms and tsunamis. Moreover, mangrove forests serve as nurseries to many fish species that are of great commercial importance—and also crucial to our food security.
Lastly, through our efforts at reducing CO2 emissions, Indonesia can make a significant positive impact on the climate situation. In this regard, although our peat swamp forests are the largest in the world, they have suffered degradation. That has greatly diminished their capacity to reduce CO2 emissions. Restoration is therefore essential.
Hence, it is clear that Indonesia’s forests are of immense value. They offer us a lot of opportunities and benefits.
We therefore need to go into partnership with all stakeholders to sustainably manage our forest resources.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To ensure the sustainability of our forests while still meeting our development objectives, my Government has given priority to a set of policies and actions to safeguard our forests and ensure their sustainable management.
I made a pledge at the G-20 Summit in Pittsburgh that we in Indonesia will voluntarily reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent from business-as-usual levels by 2020. Since then, my Government has carried out many initiatives.
In 2010, we signed a Letter of Intent with the Government of Norway to cut emissions by reducing deforestation and forest degradation. This is known as REDD Plus–a concept that was launched in Bali in 2007.
In May this year, I instituted a two-year moratorium on new licenses to exploit natural primary forest and all peat lands. About two weeks ago, I signed a Decree outlining more than 70 self-funded government programs. This is a demonstration of our commitment to reduce by 26 percent our projected emission in 2020 under a business as usual scenario.
These are groundbreaking steps, but they are not goals in themselves. They are simply measures that give us time and resources, to review and revise land use policy and practice. They also provide opportunity to develop a new sector in our economy—through ecosystem restoration concessions for carbon sequestration and emission reduction.
Apart from the moratorium, we have built indicative maps that are important to the implementation of REDD Plus, and to the formulation of wise policies related to forests. These maps will also facilitate the resolution of decades-long problems of land use and land tenure.
I have also signed a Decree to set up a Task Force for the establishment of a REDD+ agency as stated in the Letter of Intent. We are also developing a national strategy on REDD Plus. The strategy includes elements such as the establishment of REDD+ institutions, the formation of relevant financial mechanisms, monitoring and benefit-sharing. To this end, and to meet the REDD+ expected targets, global funding is necessary.
I am happy to inform you that there are now more than 40 REDD Plus pilot or demonstration projects across Indonesia. This makes us a pioneer in creative ways to address climate change. It also provides us with research insights that will enrich our discussions today, and at the forthcoming global negotiations in COP17 in Durban, South Africa.
Another initiative of ours is the Forest Eleven Forum that we launched four years ago, which has brought together major tropical forest countries. My Government has also pursued bilateral forestry cooperation with several countries.
In the light of international enthusiasm for sustainable forest management, our local stakeholders must also take an active role in this field. I call upon our business leaders, particularly those in the palm oil, pulp wood and mining sectors, to partner with us by enhancing the environmental sustainability of their operations.
Still another initiative is the provision of funding for small and medium enterprises run by forest-edge inhabitants, micro finance programmes for the rural poor and for women, and Local Development Projects (PNPM) for local villages.
At the grassroots level, we have also launched a massive campaign programme to plant one billion trees nation-wide annualy.
It is said that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” I would like to say: “A billion trees a year shield the world’s lungs from decay.”
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Despite our modest achievements, I am mindful that these efforts will only take us part of the way towards our emission reduction target.
A long journey still awaits us. We know we must do more, to address the primary sources of our greenhouse emissions, such as illegal logging, forest encroachment, forest and land fires, and peat land drainage. And indeed we are working hard and comprehensively to overcome these challenges.
At the same time, we are mainstreaming all these perspectives and commitments into a special development framework. Our endeavours to effectively protect the environment are reflected in a special 15-year Master Plan to accelerate and expand our economic development. This means that sustainable development is part and parcel of our efforts to boost Indonesia''s economy, so that it will become the 12th largest economy by 2025.
This meeting is of great value to Indonesia. It is a contribution to global efforts at protecting forests, and to the advance of the climate change discourse. I am especially pleased to see many business leaders here today, because they bring decades of experience to the table, and help to shape the future of our nation’s forests. I encourage all of you to forge greater cooperation with international partners.
I ask you to join me in pledging to safeguard this national treasure, for the sake of our children.
As I mentioned earlier, Indonesia, as custodian of one the largest tropical forests of the world, will continue to maintain a pro-environment growth strategy.
The task before us today is to chart a sustainable future for our forests and meet our development objectives. This is not an easy task. But we will pay a much higher price if we do not take up the challenge. By working hard together, we can help guarantee the future of our forests. And the future of our children and grandchildren.
That future begins now.
I thank you
Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Shangri-la Hotel, Jakarta, 27-9-2011
Selasa, 01 November 2011
Gerakan Indonesia Gemar Membaca
Jika para tokoh bangsa Indonesia itu menyerap semua pengetahuan dunia seperti itu, bagaimana mungkin mereka tidak menjadi sejajar dengan para tokoh besar dunia?
Jika nanti Ratusan Juta Manusia Indonesia menyerap pengetahuan dari semua manusia-manusia terbesar dunia, bukankah ratusan juta manusia itu juga akan menjadi manusia-manusia yang unggul di dunia?
(Ratusan juta manusia yang akan menyerap semuanya, dari Nabi Muhammad, Napoleon, sampai Kennedy. Dari Leonardo da Vinci, Newton, sampai Einstein. Dari Adam Smith, Rockefeller, sampai Bill Gates. Buku. Membaca). Dan pastikan anak anda senang membaca, dia mungkin juga akan jadi orang besar.
Great Input = Great Mind.
(Eko Laksono)
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