Indonesia sends team to Brazil for Redd+ program

Antara News, Thursday, May 27, 2010 03:57 WIB

Oslo (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has sent a team to Brazil to see from close quarters the implementation of the forest conservation cooperation program by way of the REDD+ mechanism there.

The statement was made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Norwegian Government Guest House in Oslo on Wednesday afternoon local time after witnessing the signing of Letter of Intent (LoI) on reducing emissions caused by deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) between Indonesia and Norway worth 1 billion US dollars.

"Indonesia will send a team to Brazil as a comparison in the implementation of the program (REDD+) in Brazil," the President said.

Indonesia, he added, will especially focus on the mechanism of control and measuring the effectiveness of the program, so that Norway will act the same in implementing the program both with Indonesia or Brazil.

The Indonesian and Norwegian governments signed a deal worth one billion US dollars for cooperation in reducing emissions caused by reforestation and forest degradation.

Signing for Indonesia was Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Norwegian Environment and International Development Minister Erik Solheim who acted for his government in the presence of President Yudhoyono and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

Jens Stoltenberg said under the agreement Norway is committed to support Indonesia`s efforts in preserving its forests at a cost of one billion dollars provided in three stages.

"The contribution will be based on reducing forest felling. Therefore, monitoring and verification are a key to make sure that progress is being made in reducing forest felling," he said when underlining the importance of control.

President Yudhoyono was among others in the company of Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta, Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hassan, Sports and Youth Minister Andi Mallarangeng, and Presidential spokesmen Dino Patti Djalal and Julian A. Pasha.

After the bilateral meeting, Stoltenberg will entertain the President and his wife Madame Ani Yudhoyono and entourage at a dinner.