THE RIDDLE OF THE FORESTS

Pak Helman, Indonesian villager, observing a deforestation site: “What can we possibly do to stop this? I feel lost. I feel abandoned.”

Not quite, Pak. The Bali summit is considering Indonesia’s homegrown answer: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). Rich nations would pay developing nations to protect the atmosphere from the ravages of deforestation.

But will it work? That’s the riddle. Can lands involved be protected from illegal logging and corruption? The UNFCCC so far has not included permits for deforestation prevention because the projects could not be effectively proved or policed. With reports emerging from the Bali summit predicting inaction due to US obstruction, the promise for decisive change is fading.

In Indonesia corruption is so commonplace one illegal logger, Adelin Lis, became a notorious outlaw. Arrested earlier this year, he was acquitted, possibly by a bribed or threatened court, and left the country.

But satellite imaging may be able to track illegal loggers and bring them to justice. That would make the REDD plan feasible. Newly hopeful Pak Helman’s response: “I am so thankful for the recent attention…At times it seems too late. But I see some hope now.”

Forest Loss in Sumatra Becomes a Global Issue
Peter Gelling, December 6, 2007 (NY Times)

WHO
Greenpeace (Pak Helman, volunteer), Woods Hole Research Center, an environmental group

Selling CERs to stop deforestation is not only the right thing to do, it is the free market solution. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a new strategy for conserving forests in developing countries. A small area of Riau Province in Indonesia will become a test case. REDD is one of the central topics at the Bali summit on climate change. REDD would have wealthy countries pay developing countries for not cutting down forests.

WHEN
- In recent years, pulp and paper companies are logging government concessions and putting in palm oil plantations for biodiesel production.
- In the past 10 years, 60+% of Riau Province’s forests have been logged, burned and pulped.
- The Bali summit runs through December 14.

WHERE
Riau Province, the island of Sumatra. Indonesian deforestation releases more CO2 than any other country.

WHY
- Deforestation releases 20% of world CO2 into the atmosphere.
- Higher oil prices creates greater demand for renewable biodiesel but drives deforestation for palm oil plantations.
- Five years ago Mr. Helman earned nearly $100/week catching shrimp. Now, logging has poisoned rivers snaking and he barely finds $5/month in shrimp.
- Illegal logging is commonplace in Indonesia: too much forest, too little enforcement. Woods Hole Research Center presented research at the Bali summit showing that new satellite technology can track illegal logging.

(cartoon by Chris Madden. click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Susanto Kurniawan, Indonesian forestry coordinator: “This is very serious — the world needs to act now…In a few years it will be too late.”
- Thomson Siagian, spokesman, attorney general of Indonesia: “There are a number of ongoing investigations into corruption that has allowed illegal loggers from all over Indonesia to go free…In such a lucrative industry, payoffs are common.”
- John P. Holdren, Woods Hole Research Center, describing satellite technology to track illegal logging: “[Reports] show that radar imagery from new sensors recently placed in orbit can solve the problem of monitoring reductions in tropical deforestation, which previously was a major obstacle because of cloud cover that optical sensors can’t see through…”