Rainforest collaboration between Norway and Indonesia back on track

Indonesia and Norway will enter into a new rainforest agreement, with a fresh memorandum of understanding outlining the terms for bilateral cooperation to reduce deforestation.

"This is very good news for the rainforest. It is important that Indonesia is rewarded for its impressive work to reduce deforestation, and the Norwegian support will reinforce these efforts," says Tørris Jæger, Secretary General of Rainforest Foundation Norway.

Indonesia contains the third largest extent of tropical forest on the planet, but its rainforests have suffered greatly from the ever-expanding palm oil industry. However, Indonesia has proved capable of implementing effective measures to curb deforestation: Indonesian authorities report that deforestation between 2014 and 2020 had been reduced by almost 90%.

"Indonesia is already a global leader in reducing deforestation. This constitutes one of the largest climate mitigation results since we launched the Paris Agreement in 2015," says Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian foreign secretary.

Indonesia ended their previous, similar forest agreement with Norway in 2021, but with the new agreement cooperation has been re-established.

"During last year's climate summit in Glasgow, major and important promises were made about increased efforts for the rainforest. Today's news is perhaps the most important follow-up to this with one of the largest rainforest countries showing a willingness to step up efforts," Jæger of Rainforest Foundation Norway, says.

He is further confident that the new agreement can provide an effective, successful partnership.

"We are particularly happy to see that it is the Indonesian Environmental Fund who will receive support from Norway, as they prioritise strengthening local communities and enabling them to take the lead in environmentally friendly forest management."