A Vehicle, of Climate Change Mitigation

As a complex ecosystem rich in biomass, a lot of energy is stored in our forests. 

Importantly, forests should not only be seen as a source of energy, but also as a vehicle for climate change mitigation through the absorption of energy. Globally, forests hold energy estimated at approximately 10 times the world’s annual primary energy consumption.  In Indonesia, with more than half the land surface covered by trees, there is an abundance of biomass that could be used for Indonesians’s energy requirements. The big challenge is how to use these precious resources in a sustainable and responsible manner.

In Indonesia, about 60 million people depend on the forests for their livelihoods.  Many more than that, over half of Indonesia’s population, rely on traditional biomass, including fuelwood, as their primary source of energy, especially at village level.  Approximately 80 percent of domestic fuelwood consumption is for household use and 20 percent for industrial and commercial purposes.  On the other hand, over the past decade, fuelwood use in Indonesia has declined by 35 percent, and we can expect this trend to continue in the future. 

“For many generations, Indonesia's vast forests, and trees outside the forest have met the needs for fuelwood of so many people in the rural areas.  Over the recent past, we have embarked to reveal the huge potential of the forests through sustainable and more efficient generation of energy, such as in the form of wood pellets and biofuels. The forest also hosts other forms of energy, such as geo-thermal, hydropower, and even wind power. Forests represent a huge source of power for economic and human development in Indonesia”, said Dr. Siti Nurbaya, Indonesian Minister of Enviroment at the opening of commemoration of the International Day of Forests held at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in Jakarta, today. 

Given Indonesia’s rapid urban development, more than half of Indonesia’s population now lives in urban areas. Trees play important role in urban development for esthetic and other reasons; importantly, the planting of trees in urban areas can help cool temperatures by between 2 to 8 degrees, in that they are able to regulate the local climate.  Trees help reduce ambient temperature by blocking sunlight and through evapotranspiration, acting as a natural air conditioner, modifying air pollution concentrations and lowering the overall energy bill in urban environments.

Sustainable Forest Management is essential

Indonesia’s National Energy Policy provides strategic guidance on the use of renewable energy from the forests.  The policy aims to increase the share of renewable energy in total energy consumption to 23 percent by 2025 and to 31 percent by 2050.  Among others, an education programme in the sustainable use of biomass for energy generation, especially from wood, is needed to achieve these targets.

With appropriate technology, wood energy is sustainable, eco-friendly and economically sound.  From an economic perspective, wood is cheaper than many other fuels. For the environment, the sustainable use of wood is also beneficial for the global climate.  Wood energy furthermore provides income-generating opportunities for forest communities.  In Gorontalo province, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has developed a bio-energy program, where fuelwood is central to the economy of the villages. It is an example of responding to local initiatives for renewable energy, and effective engagement with sub-national government programmes and local communities.

“It is good to note that Indonesia’s forests are changing from being a key source of energy towards a vehicle for climate change mitigation, not only for the country, but for the world at large. As forests have a tremendous capacity to absorb and store energy, the sustainable management of forests is essential”, said Mark Smulders, FAO Representative in Indonesia.

Sustainably managed forests will help Indonesia meet several of its Sustainable Development Goal targets, especially in increasing the supply of renewable energy by 2030.  Collaboration among key stakeholders is essential to achieve the sustainable development targets, while ensuring that Indonesia’s forests remain a major source of renewable energy for rural people, and a carbon sink to benefit the world’s climate and the health of future generations.