Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a new climate and conservation partnership under a bilateral agreement with Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MOEF). This agreement directly supports Indonesia's Forestry and Other Land Use Net Sink 2030 Operational Plan, which is a key strategy for the attainment of Indonesia's nationally-determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement for Global Climate Change.
The agreement will enhance Indonesia's efforts to promote low-carbon development, build resilience to climate risks, and improve the conservation of biodiversity.
In video remarks, Administrator Power said, "This agreement will help prevent forest degradation; rehabilitate mangrove and peatlands; and improve protection of Indonesia's incredible wildlife. It will build on Indonesia's work over the last seven years to reduce deforestation by nearly two-thirds. And it will help preserve the vital resources that Indonesia's forests offer beyond their stunning natural beauty: the carbon sinks that will be critical for stabilizing the climate."
This new agreement aims to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, rehabilitate degraded forest and land, and improve management of natural and plantation forests. USAID and MOEF also plan to restore peatlands and mangroves, enhance climate change adaptation and resilience, and improve biodiversity conservation - including for charismatic species like orangutans, elephants, tigers, and rhinoceroses.
"This agreement represents a significant follow-up to the White House Fact Sheet discussed by President Jokowi and President Biden during their bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit in Bali last year," said Indonesia's Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya.
This partnership marks a significant milestone toward realizing the shared vision of President Joe Biden and Indonesian President Joko Widodo to accelerate the U.S.-Indonesian partnership in key areas including tackling the climate crisis. USAID aims to contribute up to $50 million over five years, subject to the availability of funds, toward achieving the agreement's climate and biodiversity objectives, enhance Indonesia's resilience against climate change, and improve conservation and biodiversity-including protecting Indonesia's iconic species, such as the orangutan.
The United States stands ready with the Government of Indonesia to embrace opportunities that come with the green economy and reduce emissions by protecting forests and peatlands. To support the MOEF's goals, USAID will coordinate closely with the Government of Indonesia at all levels and with local, national, and international stakeholders.
The United States and Indonesia share a deep and enduring Strategic Partnership, anchored in shared values of democracy and pluralism, and a common commitment to a strong and vibrant civil society. This agreement builds on decades of USAID's partnership with the Government of Indonesia, the private sector, communities across Indonesia, and other partners to protect biodiversity, reduce deforestation, and strengthen Indonesia's environmental resilience while protecting the ecosystems that support people's livelihoods.
