The regent for Malinau in East Kalimantan, Dr. Marthin Billa, has been awarded Indonesia’s highest environmental prize in recognition of his efforts to establish Malinau as a conservation district.

he Kalpataru environmental prize was presented by the President of Indonesia President, Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in conjunction with World Environment Day, June 6. Each year the Government of Indonesia awards the Kalpataru to communities and individuals who show leadership in protecting and preserving the environment.

Malinau holds the largest area of Borneo’s remaining prime forests and is home to the 302,000 hectare forest in north-east Kalimantan where CIFOR has pioneered a range of multidisciplinary research activities since 1996.

Dr. Billa said the award would be of little use if the environmental damage seen in other parts of the archipelago started happening in Malinau. He also acknowledged that his vision of Malinau remaining a conservation district would ultimately fail if people are unconvinced of its value.

“We have to be sure that as a conservation district, Malinau will benefit the community,” Dr. Billa said, “Even if we do not experience the benefits ourselves, we must be sure future generations do.”

Dr. Billa said receiving the award would not lead to complacency, as the honor of the conservation award put an onus on the Malinau Government to improve people’s welfare and develop the community.

Conservation principles will be fundamental to Malinau’s future. For example, now Malinau has firmly established its conservation credentials, it is hoped community welfare will eventually benefit from environmental service payment and carbon trading schemes.

Partnership with CIFOR

Ever since the district government declared Malinau a conservation regency in 2005, it has emphasized the role of partnerships and stakeholder participation in achieving its goals. Accordingly Dr. Bila and his government colleagues have worked with organizations such as WWF and Tropenbos. They have also supported CIFOR's efforts to train villagers in how to engage in multistakeholder land use and spatial planning processes.

It is possible that partnerships and cooperation will also play a crucial role in future Indonesian conservation efforts. Malianu district’s ability to reduce deforestation demonstrates Indonesia is capable of making a significant contribution to international efforts to tackle climate change. With forests to be one of the key agenda items at the COP13 climate change discussions later this year in Bali, national governments and international agencies may well be looking to assist projects that can emulate Malinau’s success. YS, GC

Further information: www.cifor.cgiar.org/Research/Livelihoods/MainActivities/mrf.htm or use CIFOR's publications' search engine: www.cifor.cgiar.org/publications