Asian Development Bank Collaborates with Indonesian Stakeholders on the Model Forest Act Initiative
The Model Forest Act Initiative (MoFAI) held a pivotal week of intensive work and knowledge sharing in Indonesia on 26-30 July 2024, bringing together leading experts in forest law and policy, scientists, civil society, and private sector to inform the drafting of the General Part of the Model Forest Act.
On 26 July 2024, the MoFAI Drafting Committee was hosted by the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) and met with Dr. Robert Nasi, Director-General, and other scientists who provided important scientific information and insights.
On 27-29 July 2024, the MoFAI Drafting Committee was hosted by the Indonesian Judicial Training Center where significant progress was made on the draft General Part of the Model Forest Act, with valuable contributions from representatives from the Judicial Training Center and Indonesian Center for Environmental Law (ICEL).
On 30 July 2024, the MoFAI Drafting Committee convened a knowledge sharing session hosted at Asian Development Bank's (ADB) Indonesia Resident Mission (IRM) in Jakarta. Mr. Jiro Tominaga, Country Director of ADB IRM, welcomed the MoFAI Drafting Committee and Indonesian stakeholders from CIFOR-ICRAF, ICEL and other civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector. Participants discussed implementation and enforcement issues and how legal regimes can be enhanced to strengthen forest protection and sustainable forest management, especially in light of the 21st-century challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. They identified pressing challenges and shared best practices, emphasizing the critical role of local knowledge and community participation in crafting and implementing effective forest policies and laws.
The MoFAI Drafting Committee ended their Indonesia mission with a visit to the Indonesia Supreme Court to gain a deeper understanding of Indonesia's environmental jurisprudence including forest-related cases.
The MoFAI events in Indonesia were instrumental in advancing the goals of the initiative. By fostering collaboration and building partnerships, the MoFAI team laid a strong foundation for the development of a comprehensive and effective legal framework for the protection and sustainable management of forests. As MoFAI moves forward, the lessons learned and relationships forged in Indonesia will be invaluable in shaping its global impact.
