iip albanjary

Today deforestation always linked to some issues : biofuel demand, settlement development and agrarian reform. A recent news from Brazil informs causes of deforestation in Amazon forest region is linked to agrarian reform implemented by government.

In Indonesia,most deforestation are linked to agriculture expansion and settlement development. In recent years, tropical forests also threatened by the expansion of oil palm plantation as world’s demand on biofuel is raising. In fact, oil palm plantation are built close to forests areas or degraded forest areas. Government of Indonesia has reserving some forests areas called conversion forests to be converted to other land uses including plantation.

Now, more countries are moving up to halting deforestation using global mechanism called REDD (Reducing Emissions from deforestation and degradation). Although the mechanism is still testing in some places, the mechanism has potential advances to limiting the impact of deforestation on climate change. Deforestation is known as a significant contributor of carbon emission.

"Biofuels" by Wim Soetaert(ed)

There are ways of helping rural poor with energy-based projects, such energy efficient cooking stove to small scale bioenergy.

A joint study of FAO and DFiD shows, when produced on a small-scale in local communities, bioenergy can play a significant role in rural development in poor countries. The study refers to 15 bioenergy projects in Latin America, Africa and Asia involving 12 countries.

Most poor areas in rural area are depending on biomass for cooking and heating. About 80 percent of them sources from wood.

The study highlights possible benefits for rural poor:

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Green jobs become more popular in the next years? A report of UNEP says that green jobs become something of an emblem of a more sustainable economy and society.  The report refers green jobs  as work in agriculture, industry, services and administration that contributes to preserving or restoring the quality of the environment.

I remember that such report was noted by NY Times as over-hyped the potential to create good jobs from industries like wind and solar power.  These argument may relevant in developed countries such Europe and US in the normal economic situation.  The problem is our economy and society are facing recession.

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