WWF has welcomed a new partnership between Norway and Indonesia that will seek to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation(REDD+) and includes a pledge of $1 billion from Norway to support Indonesia’s efforts.

Groundwork

Before any real action can be taken, the partnership will first lay the groundwork of strategies and infrastructure that will ensure that future actions will be effective.

Funds will therefore initially be devoted to finalizing Indonesia’s climate and forest strategy, building and institutionalizing capacity to monitor, report and verify reduced emissions, and putting in place enabling policies and institutional reforms.

A two-year suspension on new concessions on conversion of natural forests and peat lands into plantations also will be implemented as part of the agreement.

Expansion

By 2014, the plan is to move to expand the project out, with an Indonesian-wide instrument of funding contributions. This funding will only remain in place if verified emission reductions can be produced.

Funds will be managed by an internationally reputable financial institution according to international fiduciary, governance, environmental and social standards.

Key Meeting

The announcement of this partnership came as more than 30 governments today meet to discuss a first-time partnership at the Oslo Climate and Forest Conference to advance REDD+ activities this year.

“This partnership is a key step in developing a workable framework for reducing emissions from deforestation in Indonesia,” said Fitrian Ardiansyah, Climate and Energy Program Director of WWF-Indonesia.”

Rasmus Hansson, CEO of WWF-Norway, concurred with the sentiments coming from his Indonesian counterpart:

“Indonesia’s agreement with Norway to big reductions in deforestation is a groundbreaking achievement in the work to combat climate change. This commitment to halting destructive forest and land use by one of the world’s key forest countries promises to directly limit global CO2 emissions.”

Safeguarding

“This agreement sets an inspiring example of responsible climate cooperation between developing and industrialised nations,” said Hansson, “To WWF, it is of particular importance that the partners recognise that forest conservation is about much more than CO2 emissions. Safeguarding ecosystems, biodiversity and indigenous peoples’ livelihoods is an absolute prerequisite for making this work – and obviously a crucial benefit in itself.”