The Norwegian delegation was headed by Ambassador Stig Traavik, and with representatives from the Ministry of Climate and the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and from Norad. The Indonesian delegation was headed by Mr. William Sabandar, Chair of the National Special Team, together with representatives from the REDD+ Joint Secretariat in Central Kalimantan.
The delegation visited a Special Designation Forest Area in Tumbang Nusa village, which serves as a research site for forest on peatland; a Climate Communication Center in Buntoi village which has been designated as a community center for knowledge sharing on sustainable environmental management; and a community-based rubber plantation and sustainable peatland management technology pilot site in Jabiren village which introduces farmers to inter-cropping technology and trains them and women’s groups to collect primary and secondary data for future carbon emission calculation. The delegation furthermore visited the REDD+ Operations and Training Center in Palangka Raya.
On the second day of the visit, the delegation met with the Head of Murung Raya district, Drs. Perdie, M.A., to discuss the district’s initiative to protect their conservation forests and how this can become linked to the REDD+ scheme.
The delegation also did forest trekking in Kolam village to learn more about some of the challenges facing local forest communities. During the visit to Kolam village, Mr. Perdie explained that REDD+ implementation cannot be separated from efforts to improve general welfare, job creation and sustain traditional culture. From discussions with the village communities there seemed to be a clear commitment to protect remaining forests and eco-systems.
As the Indonesian-Norwegian REDD+ partnership now is proceeding to the Transformation phase (phase 2 in LoI), active engagement from local forest communities will become increasingly important to ensure broad support and successful implementation of the REDD+ program.