Posted on 04 July 2013
Since the Heart of Borneo (HoB) Declaration
in 2007 the initiative has achieved successes
in various areas. However the reality is
that the successes so far do not go far
enough to ensure long-term protection. Instead,
a broader program which involves players
from various sectors such as the public,
private, NGO, community and others is required.
Furthermore, an intervention on sustainable
development is equally important alongside
the traditional approach for land and wildlife
conservation. Therefore the development
of the green economy concept for the Heart
of Borneo in three countries is a new approach
that unifies conservation and sustainable
development themes and allows those various
key players to be actively involved in the
design and implementation of HoB program.
In Indonesia, the HoB area has been acknowledged
by Indonesian Government as National Strategic
Area (NSA) through Government Regulation
(PP) No.26 of 2008. NSA HoB has the implication
of it being nationally prioritized for the
spatial plan. This regulation was then followed
by the Presidential Decree No. 3 of 2012,
on island spatial plan for Kalimantan, where
HoB is designated as part of ‘lungs of the
world’ area. With these fundamental recognitions
on importance of HoB, development policy
is required to guide the proper land use,
and green economy policy will serve as the
suitable guidance for development in the
HoB area.
The National Working
Group (POKJANAS) HoB has commissioned experts
from six universities, three of them from
Kalimantan, to prepare a study on an ‘Implementation
Strategy for Heart of Borneo Development
through a Green Economy Approach’. The process
of finalizing the study will be iterative,
with revisions made to accommodate input
from national and local stakeholders through
discussions both in Jakarta and in the three
provinces.
The document highlighted green economy as
one fundamental instrument for sustainable
development in the HoB area and recommended
green economy strategies such as incentive
or disincentive mechanisms for corporates
and communities, optimalization of district-generated
revenue from non-forestry sectors, synergizing
spatial plans with the HoB area, transparent
and responsible forest governance and institutional
capacity building.
Implementation of the recommended strategy
requires enabling conditions such as central
government policy and regulation (for example
government regulation on environmental services),
regional/local government policy and regulation
(PERDA), synchronized national and local
policies, development of green economy indicators,
and adaptation on local issues.
A particular issue that emerged in the discussion
was the formalization of HoB Green Economy
strategy implementation as a national regulation
and policy (in the form of a Presidential
Decree). This is considered important to
ensure effective implementation in the area.
The meeting proposed inclusion of the HoB
Green Economy into the evolving process
of HoB National Strategic Area as part of
the Presidential Decree, to get stronger
backup for the implementation of green economy
approach in the area.
Cooperation with the Finance Ministry is
seen as key to govern applicable incentives
or disincentives through the establishment
of specific policies and other measures
to encourage sustainable use of natural
resources.
The meeting also noted that the revitalization
of the customary laws (hukum adat) is crucial
to increase the level of local community
participation in the implementation of green
economy.
POKJANAS anticipates the possibility to
conduct a national seminar on the HoB Green
Economy Implementation Strategy later on
in August 2013 and expects the results to
be presented by Indonesian delegates to
the 7th HoB Trilateral Meeting scheduled
in September 2013.
+ More
Rare Dragonfly Discovered
in Wadi Wurayah
Posted on 04 July 2013
Wadi Wurayah National Park, Fujairah, UAE
– 2 July, 2013: An extremely rare species
of dragonfly has been found for the first
time in Wadi Wurayah National Park by Dr
Jacky Judas; an expert in tropical ecology
as well as a research consultant in the
wadi.
This species, which
is new to the UAE, is a dragonfly called
Urothemis thomasi. According to IUCN data,
this endemic species, only previously recorded
in a few sites in Oman, has not been recorded
anywhere since 1957 and was even thought
to be extinct.
Recent wildlife surveys
show that 21 of the 30 known dragonfly and
damselfly species that occur in the UAE,
have been recorded in Wadi Wurayah National
Park; further establishing this site as
a hotspot for dragonflies.
His Excellency Mohammed Al Afkham of Fujairah
Municipality said: “These latest exciting
discoveries further the evidence that Wadi
Wurayah is an exceptional site for wildlife.
It is vital to conserve this rich area in
order to protect the unique species which
rely on it for survival.”
Ida Tillisch, Director
General of EWS-WWF said: “Wadi Wurayah is
an example of the rich cultural and natural
heritage of the UAE. It has never failed
to surprise us; since 2006, we have found
57 new species, 25 of them new to science.
This beautiful place continues to remind
us of the life water provides, as well as
the fragility of life in this harsh climate.
We are grateful for the vision and support
of H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi,
Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler
of Fujairah and H.H. Mohammed bin Hamad
Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah for
preserving this unique place for the future
generations of the UAE".
EWS-WWF has been working
with the Government of Fujairah and other
partners in Wadi Wurayah since 2006 to establish
this important Mountain Protected Area and
National Park.
Another discovery in
the same week in two different sites in
the emirate of Fujairah found a tiny colorful
damselfly called Ischnura nursei. This is
the first time it has been recorded in the
country: its previously known range being
India, Pakistan and Iran.
