World Bank, Denmark support Indonesia’s forest management

Deforestated land in Indragiri Hulu, Riau province, Indonesia (Photo: theguardian.com)

Jakarta (VNA) - A new project was launched by Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry with assistance from World Bank and Denmark on October 5 to improve forest management and help out communities living near forest areas. 

The five-year project, called “Promoting Sustainable Community-based Natural Resources Management and Institutional Development Project”, is sponsored by a 17.5 million USD grant from the World Bank’s Forest Investment Program and 60 million USD from the Danish International Development Agency.

The project is expected to reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation and improve local authorities’ forest management skills, as well as to put into action the concept of sustainable forest management.

Communities living near forest areas often live on forest–based products, but they are becoming more vulnerable to poverty due to threats of forest’s soil, said Rodrigo Chaves, World Bank country director for Indonesia.

Casper Klynge, Danish Ambassador to Indonesia, affirmed Denmark’s support to the Indonesian government’s efforts in reducing threats to forest, including widespread fires. 

The new project will be implemented in 10 locations in Indonesia.-VNA