Indonesia`s tropical forests have a strategic function as a life- support system thanks to its ability to manage water, micro climate, absorb carbon, and as a biodiversity genetic source, the minister said when speaking at an international meeting of the Indonesia Forestry Researchers (INAFOR) 2011, at the International Convention Center of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) here on Monday.
Forests also function as foreign exchange earner from the wood that they produce, and as supporter of national food security.
Forestry personnel played a crucial role in helping tackle the impact of climate change , he said.
The minister urged researchers to develop trees that could grow very fast in order to meet industrial demand for wood and preserve the remaining tropical forests.
"Therefore, I challenge forestry researchers to make better innovations, and create technologies, so Indonesia can play a role in forest development and in the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol," the minister said.
He said the research and technology ministry has been encouraging researches based on a concept of innovation system by involving seven institutions, such as LIPI, BATAN, BAPPETEB, BSN, LAPAN and BIG (Bakosurtanal).
The three-day meeting was officially opened by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan. Some 500 Indonesian and foreign forestry researchers, as well as NGO activists are participating in the meeting.
Speakers of the meeting include the IPB Rector, the President of the International Union on Forestry Research Organization (IUFRO), the Director of Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), the Director of Forest Research and Development Agency (FORDA), and the Director of DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) Jakarta.
The meeting`s theme is "Strengthening Forest Science and Technology for Better Forestry Development".
The meeting is organized to prepare Indonesian researchers for participating in a IUFRO world forestry researcher meeting which will be held in Utha, the United States, according to Tahrir Fathoni, the head of the forestry ministry`s research and development department. (*)
Editor: Kunto Wibisono
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
