As written for Forest Carbon Asia on 13 July 2011.

One of the President’s commitments is to reduce emissions by 26% from business as usual by 2020 using our own resources” and by 41% with the support of international community. Now” more than sixty percent of Indonesia’s emissions comes from land use and forestry sectors. These sectors are projected to continue to be the largest emissions contributor by 2020. This is why responsible natural resource management and land use play a vital part in achieving the President’s emissions reduction targets.

Our land encompasses our natural resources. The issue of land tenure undoubtedly influences how we manage our natural resources nation-wide as a response to the climate change challenge and for the benefit of the communities living in and around the forests. Improving forest governance and land tenure is in line with our effort to reduce poverty” as there are at least 10 million forest-dependent people who live under poverty line.

Hence” we can not address the sustainable use of our natural resources if we do not appropriately address the complexities of land tenure – that is” how access is granted to the rights to use” control” and transfer land” as well as define associated responsibilities and constraints. As such” finding the appropriate land tenure arrangement is a pre-requisite for sustainable development and livelihood. The issue of land tenure and its linkage to development and people’s welfare is what I would like to talk to you about today.

Please click here to read Kuntoro Mangkusubroto’s keynote speech at the International Conference on Forest Tenure” Governance and Enterprise” Lombok” 12 July 2011.

Please click here to visit the conference site.