On May 20, 2024, JICA held a public symposium under the theme of “Protecting the Lungs of the Earth” at the JICA Chikyu Hiroba International Conference Hall. The symposium featured speakers from Brazil, Indonesia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which have vast tropical forests called the “lungs of the earth,” as well as Japanese experts and business representatives. The symposium was attended by about 120 people at the venue and about 200 people online. The symposium was organized by JICA and co-sponsored by the Mainichi Newspapers, and supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Forestry Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, and International Tropical Timber Organization, with the cooperation of Sumitomo Forestry Co.
(Photo: A view of the venue)
Tropical Forest Now
This symposium was divided into three parts. In the keynote speech of the first part, Mr. Kosaku Ohnaka of the Forestry Agency, who is currently dispatched to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Congolese people as a JICA expert, gave a field report. Mr. Ohnaka spoke about the current situation in which forests are being deforested due to rapid conversion of agricultural lands to fuelwood and charcoal due to the rapid increase in population. Next, Professor Kaoru Kitajima of the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, gave an overview of the contribution of tropical forests on a global scale by introducing academic findings and his own fieldwork. In particular, he explained that the diversity of tropical forests fosters further biodiversity and that the success or failure of tropical forest conservation can have a significant impact not only on the countries and regions where tropical forests are located, but also on global climate change countermeasures and the regional water cycle.
In the second session, officials from Brazil, Indonesia, and the Congo reported on the current state of deforestation, efforts in each country, and challenges to conservation. Ms. Nala Vidal Pantoja, General Coordinator of the Environmental Monitoring and Information Center of the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, explained the current state of deforestation in Brazil, revealing the fact that an area of forest larger than the land area of Japan has been lost so far. He also explained that Brazil is working to achieve the goal of zero deforestation by 2030, using satellite images. Mr. Muhammad Zahurul Muttaqin, Forestry Attaché of the Embassy of Indonesia in Japan, then spoke about Indonesia’s forest policy and current situation. Mr. Maurice Matanda Kahunda, Director General of Forest Inventory Development, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Congolese people, introduced the current state of forests in the Congolese people, and the efforts and challenges for forest conservation. In the last part of the second session, Mr. Masaru Kurimoto, Manager of Team 2, Forest and Natural Environment Group, Global Environment Department, JICA, explained the history of JICA’s cooperation in the three major tropical forests in the world and the importance of people-centered cooperation.
Kosaku Ohnaka Kaoru Kitajima
Who owns the Blue Earth?”
In the third part, the discussion proceeded based on the keynote speeches in the first part and the ambitious goals and reports by 2030 raised by the three countries in the second part. In addition to the speakers from the three countries in the second session, we were joined by Mr. Benjamin Toilambe Bamoninga, Undersecretary General of the Congolese Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Ms. Yuko Iizuka, Executive Officer and General Manager of Sustainability Promotion Department, Sumitomo Forestry Co. Moderated by Ms. Ai Ohba, Deputy General Manager of the Life Science and Environment Department of the Mainichi Shimbun, the discussion focused on solutions to problems in tropical forest conservation from the three perspectives of (1) local residents, (2) corporate activities, and (3) international cooperation as the main actors involved. Regarding (1) local residents, the importance of local residents, companies, government officials, international cooperation organizations, and other stakeholders understanding each other’s role in tropical forest conservation and working together under careful consultation was discussed, as local residents range from indigenous people to migrant residents, He also spoke about efforts to respect the ownership of local residents through participatory forest management and other measures. In addition, he spoke about the importance of the three axes of climate change countermeasures, biodiversity conservation, and better livelihoods for people, and the need to take a broad view of the entire landscape and conduct activities in line with the characteristics of each site. Regarding international cooperation, he emphasized the importance of taking a science-based approach using the latest technologies such as satellite imagery, and the importance of enhancing the ownership of each country and sustaining the results, with an eye toward the end of the cooperation through international cooperation. In addition, the three countries are committed to working together for the conservation of tropical forests.
Ms. Yuko Iizuka (Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.), Ms. Mutakin (Embassy of Indonesia in Japan), Mr. Kurimoto (JICA), Ms. Pantoja (Environmental Monitoring and Information Center, Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources), Mr. Kafunda (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Democratic Republic of Congo), Ms. Toilambe (Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, DRC), Ms. Ai Oba (Mainichi Newspapers)
During the symposium, many questions were asked both from the audience and online. During the Q&A session, the speakers answered questions about examples of collaboration among Brazil, Indonesia, and the Congolese people; about examples of collaboration efforts in the Congo Basin; about social forestry in Indonesia; and about 30 by 30 (the goal of 30% of the area of protected areas, etc. by 2030).
The speakers concluded the session with a few words. While all the speakers agreed on the sustainable use of forest resources to preserve forests for future generations, they also asked the question, “Who owns this blue planet? Moderator Ohba also touched on the importance of taking an attitude of considering the issue of tropical forest conservation as one’s own affair, not as someone else’s, and the third part of the session came to a close.
In the questionnaire after the symposium, many participants said that they gained a deeper understanding of the current situation in the three countries, JICA’s efforts, and the challenges facing the conservation of tropical forests. Some said that we need to start by learning more about the current state of tropical forests. In addition, the audience took advantage of the breaks and after the closing session to engage in a lively exchange of information and opinions between the speakers and the participants.
Part 3: Panel Discussion
After the symposium, a report on the symposium was posted on the website of the MOTTAINAI Campaign Secretariat of the Mainichi Newspapers. 20-year anniversary of the MOTTAINAI Campaign: JICA and the Mainichi Newspapers hold symposium on tropical forest conservation “Let’s protect the lungs of the earth” – MOTTAINAI Mottainai MOTTAINAI
Photo of the speakers © Mainichi Newspapers
Venue © JICA
Handouts distributed on the day of the event:
Speaker projection materials:
© Source JICA
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