GOOD NEWS THAT WAS OVERLOOKED

In early June 2024, there was a report from the official website of the Indonesian presidency that surprisingly did not gain much attention from media observers. The news mentioned that Norwegian Minister of Climate and Environment, Andreas Bjelland Eriksen, had praised Indonesia’s achievement in reducing deforestation by 90% and ambitiously rehabilitating land. His quote was as follows:

“Indonesia has made significant progress and achieved outstanding results regarding deforestation in recent years. What has been accomplished here, reducing deforestation by 90% and ambitiously working toward the FOLU Net Sink target for 2030, is something the world should know.”

It is unclear what happened in the media atmosphere when this news emerged. Given the gravity of the issue, a 90% reduction in deforestation should have been “headline-worthy” news. Yet, the public’s response was relatively muted. Was it because the issue of environmental sustainability and the reduction of deforestation is associated with the previous administration, and thus not prioritized in the news? That explanation seems inadequate. Amidst various uncertain political issues, qualitative achievements in environmental conservation should highlight the performance of President Joko Widodo’s administration, especially as the president prepares to deliver his annual speech on August 16.

Good news remains good news, but this particular story almost passed unnoticed. The issue of deforestation reduction, recognized globally, did not spark public discourse, nor did it become a hot topic in the media. It also was not seized upon by government “buzzers” who typically flood social media with opinions.

In June 2024, Indonesian media was dominated by discussions of the resignation of the Head of the Nusantara Capital Authority (IKN), changes in IKN management, and the president’s plan to soon work from IKN. The significant achievement of reducing deforestation went unreported on Kompas.com, a popular news outlet. A thorough internet search revealed no mention of the 90% figure that Eriksen quoted on Sunday, June 2.

The substantial reduction in deforestation in Indonesia should be celebrated by all, both those in power and critics outside of it. However, Indonesia’s political landscape does not foster a strong opposition culture. Criticism often arises from individuals partially aligned with the government, while support, even if subtle or behind the scenes, frequently comes from political outsiders.

Indonesians are currently navigating an era of massive digital media disruption. Technological advancements in communication, which should facilitate information dissemination, have instead created overwhelming distractions. The rapid, abundant flow of digital information has made it easy for critical national issues, such as deforestation reduction, to fade from public attention. This has left most media consumers, scattered across various communities and social media groups, largely disengaged from such important topics.

This situation highlights that a news story, no matter how valuable in content, will not significantly impact public consciousness unless it can reach a wide audience or “go viral.” This presents a significant challenge for public communication officials and for the media, which must serve as the anchor for increasing public understanding and rational discourse.

For similar non-controversial issues that don’t immediately grab attention, their fate may be to be forgotten. There must be a strategy to deliver news that can penetrate layers of media consumers who are likely indifferent and accustomed to distractions.

CUSTOMARY FORESTS AND REDD+

Indonesia’s collaboration with Norway on forest management issues has a long history. During the second term of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesia and Norway entered a new phase of cooperation under the REDD+ framework. This collaboration was marked by the signing of a Letter of Intent on May 26, 2010, in Oslo, Norway. The agreement promised up to $1 billion in grant funding, contingent on Indonesia’s success in achieving REDD+ targets within a specified time frame. However, in the final years of Yudhoyono’s administration, Indonesia faced significant challenges in meeting these targets.

Critics pointed out that the bureaucratic management of the REDD+ program in Indonesia was vulnerable to corruption. From land determination, carbon value calculations (susceptible to manipulation), the emergence of carbon brokers, to the loss of local community access to forests, the program faced numerous challenges. One prominent corruption case was that of Anggoro Widjojo, who implicated former Forestry Minister MS Kaban.

Slow involvement of indigenous communities in decision-making regarding customary forest management also contributed to Indonesia’s declining reputation among donors. The RECOFTC, an NGO based in Thailand specializing in training for forest management participation in Asia-Pacific, reported in 2014 on the ineffectiveness of Indonesian institutions in protecting indigenous communities and customary forests.

Worsening forest fires in 2014 further damaged Indonesia’s standing in meeting REDD+ targets. Data from the Directorate General of Climate Change Control indicated that greenhouse gas emissions rose between 2010 and 2014, with severe peatland fires in Riau and Kalimantan in 2014 marking a particularly poor year.

REDD+ progress further slowed during President Joko Widodo’s first term. His administration merged the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forestry in 2014, dissolving the independent REDD+ Agency, and transferring its responsibilities to the Directorate General of Climate Change Control within the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

CUSTOMARY FORESTS IN THE UPS AND DOWNS OF INDONESIA-NORWAY RELATIONS

Since President Joko Widodo took office, Indonesia-Norway bilateral cooperation has declined. Several aspects of the 2010 LoI had to be reconsidered, but Norway initiated discussions through a visit by Prime Minister Erna Solberg to Jambi in 2015. Solberg visited indigenous communities and highlighted Indonesia’s efforts in protecting customary forests, referencing the 2013 Constitutional Court decision, which recognized communal rights over customary forests.

THE MAP OF CUSTOMARY FORESTS AND THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES BILL

Bambang Supriyanto, formerly Director General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership, described a new chapter in Indonesia’s customary forest history, emphasizing that the Constitutional Court decision should be seen as the state delegating full authority to indigenous communities. However, laws regulating indigenous communities and their forests remain fragmented. Despite the Indigenous Peoples Bill being approved by the Legislative Body of the DPR in 2020, it has yet to be passed.

CUSTOMARY FORESTS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

As of July 2024, Indonesia has designated 138 units of customary forests, covering 265,250 hectares. This was highlighted by Mahfudz MP, the new Director General of Social Forestry and Environmental Partnership. He emphasized the importance of local wisdom and governance in balancing globalization and modernization. Mahfudz also discussed Presidential Regulation No. 28 of 2023 as a framework for coordinating social forestry management involving various stakeholders.