TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Forestry and Environment Minister (KLHK) Siti Nurbaya on November 3 asserts that halting development for the name of zero deforestation is against the 1945 Constitution (UUD), as she believes development is a national goal meant to increase people’s welfare.

“Which is why the construction that are conducted massively in the Jokowi era must not stop for the sake of carbon emission or deforestation,” said Minister Nurbaya on November 3.

She said Indonesia has reasserted its commitment to control emissions from the forestry and land use sectors, one of which is the forestry and other land use (FoLU) by 2030. However, the FoLU program cannot be interpreted as zero deforestation.

She believes forests must continue to be managed under sustainable principles and insists that the term deforestation does not fit with the actual condition in Indonesia. “There must be compatibility in terms of methodology if an assessment is to be carried out. Therefore, in a context like this, do not speak in vain and must be more detailed. If necessary, it must be very detailed, " said Siti.

Siti believes that Indonesia will be able to meet the 41 percent emission reduction goal and said the Indonesian government will reduce greenhouse gases as mandated by the Constitution with or without international assistance.

Read: Govt: Forest Net Sink Different from Zero Deforestation

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA