"Those who know about REDD are very few," Kuntoro said in the opening ceremony of a national workshop on REDD Plus activities, here Tuesday.
He urged all parties including academicians, NGO activists, and government officials to help the public understand about REDD.
"Our challenge is to introduce this (to the public)," he said.
He, however, said that more people were currently informed about the forest moratorium deal between Indonesia and Norway and the climate change impacts.
In May 2010, Indonesian announced it would introduce a two-year moratorium on deforestation as part of a forest deal reached with Norway, which has agreed to contribute up to one billion dollars to help preserve the Indonesian forests.
Together with Brazil, Indonesia boasts one of the world?s largest rain forests, which function as global "lungs" that transform carbon dioxide into oxygen.
The REDD Plus Task Force was established in September 2010 based on the presidential decree no. 19/2010, to follow up the Indonesian-Norwegian partnership program.
Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development.
REDD Plus goes beyond deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
Kuntoro said the implementation of REDD Plus (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) has often faced challenges from vested-interest industry lobbyists,
"Our moves have been closely watched by lobbyists of industries such as mining and oilpalm plantations," Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said.
(Uu.F001/HAJM/F001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
