Component 3 aims to protect forests that are located within oil palm estates and within forestry concessions by supporting the finalization and implementation of HCV, and RIL policies. These activities directly engage the concession and estate crops companies, and thereby complement the broader policy improvements related to the licensing regime that are covered under Component 1. To further support the adoption of RIL and HCV policies, the ER Program will develop a mechanism to provide monetary and nonmonetary incentives. This will be developed through a consultative process with private and public-sector stakeholders and will be linked to the REDD+ Benefit Sharing Mechanism.
4.3.1 Sub-Component 3.1. Implementation of HCV policies for Oil Palm Estates
Component 3.1 will target the 3.2 million hectares that are allocated to estate crops across East Kalimantan. In 2016 this area had 677,137 ha of natural forest remaining and much of these forests are at risk of being cleared for oil palm plantations. Activities under this component will be led mainly by the East Kalimantan Estate Crops Service and will involve government agencies at the district level and up to 100 estate crop license holders.
The Estate Crops Service will work with the relevant government agencies at the district level and with plantation companies toward a declaration of commitment to sustainable estate crops, including the protection of remaining HCV forest areas. The declaration will be facilitated through consultations involving the government agencies and the private sector. The Program will offer technical assistance to the companies and to the government agencies for the implementation of these commitments. On sustainable estate crop implementation of the commitments done by private sectors. As a further incentive, the Program will provide technical assistance to companies to improve plantation productivity and for fire prevention.
Estate crop companies will receive capacity building for conducting inventories of HCV forests and other natural remaining forests within their concession boundaries. Training on inventories and HCV management, including field guidance, will be provided by the Provincial Forestry Service with coordination with the Provincial Estate Crop Service. Capacity building will be supported by academics from local universities and by specialists from NGOs. Forest protection systems for developing and managing estate crop areas will be developed and implemented by the companies.
The Provincial Estate Crop Service will manage HCV inventory data and will monitor progress.
4.3.2 Sub-Component 3.2: Support for smallholders and Community Based Fire Management and Monitoring Systems (CBFMMS)
Partnerships between large estate crop companies and local communities in controlling forest and land fires will be facilitated. Companies will identify communities in areas that are vulnerable to fires and will facilitate the development of community groups for fire prevention. Capacity building for the groups will be provided. Training will focus on a community-based fire management and monitoring system (CBFMMS) which will cover fire management, response, monitoring, and prevention of fires.
The company, together with guidance from district estate crop service, will develop standard operation procedures (SOP) for CBFMMS. The company and district service will monitor and evaluate the implementation of CBFMMS. The training module can be replicated in other districts or villages within the province. It is expected that 100 estate crop companies will develop and implement this initiative model partnership with 180 local framer groups in controlling forest and land fires.
The East Kalimantan Estate Crop Service will provide technical assistance and training for fire prevention and control by smallholders and will provide relevant equipment for smallholders. Improved capacity of smallholders to prevent and control fires leads to fewer and less severe forest fires.
4.3.3 Sub-Component 3.3: Implementation of HCV and RIL policies for Forestry Concessions
This subcomponent seeks to protect the remaining natural forests within timber plantation and natural forest management concessions by respectively supporting the implementation of HCV and RIL policies. The ER Program will support the finalization of the RIL policy, will support concessions in the implementation of RIL and HCV policies (see Annex 4.3.), and will strengthen monitoring.
The Directorate General of Sustainable Production Forest Management (DG PHPL) will lead the finalization of the RIL policy through policy review, gap analysis, focus group discussions and public consultations to complete the formulation of the draft RIL policy. Under the ER Program, the DG PHPL will invite the East Kalimantan Provincial Government and forest concessionaires (of East Kalimantan) to further discuss the commitment of the companies to implement RIL.
Training on RIL, SFM, and HCV management will be provided to concessionaires. DG PHPL together with DG PPI, the Forestry Training Center, and partners will collaborate to develop the official RIL/RIL training module. The Forestry Training Center will conduct a series of trainings on RIL/RIL practices and monitoring to forest managers of logging concessions and to FMU field officers. The workshop and training will be conducted at the national level or in East Kalimantan. There will be 26 trainings provided by the Forestry Training Center by 2024. Training on HCV management will be provided to FMUs and to timber plantation companies. 26 trainings on HCV management will be provided by 2024.
The RIL/RIL implementation on the ground will be monitored by DG PHPL and its partners, to make sure all the processes on the ground are in line with the RIL/RIL module. In the initial phase, 11 logging concessions and 4 KPHs would implement RIL/RIL. FMUs will monitor the implementation of RIL/RIL in logging concessions. They will conduct field measurements and will share field data and estimates of emission reductions with the MRV task force.
The Provincial Forestry Service and FMUs will monitor and facilitate the implementation of HCV protection by timber plantation companies. Under the ER program, by 2024, 20 timber plantation companies (IUPHHK-HT) will identify and manage HCV forests inside their concessions.
Expected Outcomes of Component 3 are:
A substantial increase in the number of estate crop companies implementing sustainable plantation policies (including ISPO, RSPO, and HCV) leads to improved protection of remaining forests within areas allocated to estate crops;
Estate crop companies commit to and implement more sustainable practices;
Reduced deforestation through improved management and protection of remaining forests within areas allocated for estate crops;
Improved management practices by smallholder oil palm farmers leads to reduced deforestation in and around smallholder plantations;
The area of sustainably managed forest is increased;
Forest concessionaires adopt Sustainable Forest Management practices;
Forest management concessions carry out improved forest management practices (Reduced Impact Logging); and
Timber plantations implement policies to protect remaining High Conservation Value (HCV) Forests within their concessions.