Rainforest Seminar Series #2: Forest, Biodiversity, National Agendas, and Mega Projects in Borneo

Indonesia declared its commitment to climate change mitigation through the National Determined Contribution (NDC) in 2021. Having increased its ambition, the government of Indonesia has integrated other issues such as biodiversity and forest conservation in the Long-Term Strategy on Low Carbon and Climate Resilience 2050 (LTS-LCCR 2050). Yet the country is still learning to find the balance between supporting economic growth while preserving the forest and its local wisdom.

As a middle-income country, economic growth and strengthening resilience through implementing national agendas and mega projects are priorities for Indonesia. Yet these agendas have shown unintentional, detrimental socio-ecological impacts on the forests and its people in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo.

On the global stage, Borneo is known for its wealth of biodiversity. As the largest island in Asia, Borneo is also home to endemic flora and fauna species. Borneo has long been catalogued as the Asian side of the Wallace Line, as well as the Heart of Borneo (HoB), a trilateral initiative by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam to protect the forest with 40-50% of flora and faunas of the world.

The Pulitzer Center, through the work of its grantees, has supported important stories about deforestation drivers in Borneo. This work includes investigative reporting about food estates (Lumbung Pangan) and the engaging publication of visuals about the impact of the Kayan Hydropower project. Through this session, speakers will share their in-depth reporting, taking critical views about forest loss, as well as sharing political ecological views from a broader angle.

This in-person event is free to the public. 

Speakers include: 

Dr. Ir. H. Chandradewana Boer is a faculty member specializing in forestry at the University of  Mulawarman in Samarinda. 

Grenti Paramitha is the Southeast Asia Coordinator for Education at the Pulitzer Center. She leads the SEA Journalist-Scientist Rainforest Hub, which connects researchers with journalists focusing on rainforest issues.  

Rezza Aji Pratama is a Rainforest Journalism Fund Grantee based at Katadata. 

Bagja Hidayat is a Rainforest Investigations Network Fellow at TEMPO. 

The event will be moderated by Dr. Emi Purwanti, S. Hut., M. Si.