REPORT OF THE 5 TH HEART OF BORNEO (HoB) TRILATERAL MEETING 21 22 September 2011 Balikpapan, Indonesia Introduction 1. The 5 th Heart of Borneo (HoB) Trilateral Meeting was held on 21 22 September 2011 at Novotel Hotel, Balikpapan, Indonesia. 2. The Meeting was attended by delegates from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The delegation from Brunei Darussalam was headed by Mr. Haji Saidin Bin Salleh, Director of Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam; delegates from Indonesia were headed by Dr. Andi Novianto, Assistant to the Deputy Minister for Forestry of the Coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, Indonesia; and the delegation from Malaysia was headed by Mr. Frederick Kugan, Deputy Director of Forest Sector Planning, Sabah Forestry Department, Malaysia. The Meeting was also attended by representatives from local governments and the HoB partners as observers during the opening ceremony. The full list of delegates appears as Annex 1. Agenda Item 1: Opening Ceremony 3. The 5 th HoB Trilateral Meeting was officially opened by Dr. H. Awang Faroek Ishak, Governor of East Kalimantan Province. In his opening remarks, he warmly welcomed all delegates to Bumi Etam, East Kalimantan. He highlighted the development programmes of East Kalimantan Province whereby integrating the approaches towards sustainable development. He also stressed the importance of the HoB initiative and expressed hope that the initiative will create an enabling condition to advance the science, economics, culture, security defense, and environmental sustainability in each country for the prosperity of Borneo and global community. The full text of the Opening Remarks appears as Annex 2. 4. The Opening Ceremony of the 5 th HoB Trilateral Meeting was commenced with statements from the heads of delegation. The Head of Delegation of Brunei Darussalam in his speech highlighted the uniqueness of the initiative, which does not only lies on the scale or size of the forest area and the richness of its biodiversity involved but also on the exemplary commitment and willingness of the three countries to work together and share one common vision in the conservation and protection of the tropical rainforest in the heart of the Borneo island. The forests globally are under threat and its impact from such destruction is real, thus the three countries need to act together and continue to cooperate with each other in trying to save the tropical rainforest that lies in the island of Borneo, so that the forests could continue to play its role in providing socio-economic and environmental benefit to the people, not only to current generation but also future generation. The full text of his speech appears as Annex 3. 5. The Head of Malaysian delegates emphasized sustainable forest management as the key agenda in pursuing conservation goals and further reiterated the importance of mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable 1
management of its biodiversity and forests in socio-economic development agenda. Malaysia further called for efforts to explore sustainable financing through innovative means of capitalizing the conservation values of the HoB. The full text of his speech appears as Annex 4. 6. The representative from the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Natural Conservation, Ministry of Forestry Indonesia emphasized that the sustainability of the HoB areas not only ensures the availability of water in the three countries but also guarantees the existence of the biodiversity of Borneo Island. He further noted that serious commitment, as well as engagement from all relevant stakeholders is needed for the success of the HoB initiative. The full text of his statement appears as Annex 5. Agenda Item 2: Remarks of the Outgoing Chairperson 7. The Outgoing Chairperson thanked and extended his appreciation to all members of the HoB initiative for the support and commitment throughout last year Brunei s chairmanship. He expressed hope to all members to put their views and to contribute to the best they could, in finding ways and means as well as practical solutions to ensure that projects and programmes identified are implementable and could bring benefits to the HoB initiative. The full text of his remarks appears as Annex 6. Agenda Item 3: Election of Chairperson and Vice Chairperson 8. The Meeting elected Dr. I Nyoman Yuliarsana, Director of the Center for Forestry Development Control for Regional III (Kalimantan) Ministry of Forestry Indonesia as the Chairperson, and Mr. Sapuan Ahmad of Malaysia as the Vice- Chairperson of the 5 th HoB Trilateral Meeting. Agenda Item 4: Remarks by the Incoming Chairperson of the HoB Trilateral Meeting 9. In his capacity as the Chairperson of the Meeting, Dr. I Nyoman Yuliarsana welcomed all Delegates to Balikpapan and expressed his gratitude for their strong commitment for the Meeting. He congratulated Brunei Darussalam for successful chairmanship and expressed his commitment to follow suit. He reiterated the urgency to reaffirm the HoB member countries commitments to move forwards by reviewing the achievements and progress accomplished and discussing the future activities for the sustainable forest management and conservation in the Heart of Borneo. Agenda Item 5: Adoption of the Agenda 10. The meeting adopted the agenda as appears in Annex 7. Agenda Item 6: Business Arrangement 11. The Meeting was held in plenary. The Meeting was further informed on the scheduled breaks, field trip and other administrative arrangements. 2
Agenda Item 7: the HoB Initiative National Report on the Progress of the Implementation of 7.1 Brunei Darussalam 12. Brunei Darussalam updated the Meeting on the progress and development of the HoB initiative implementation in the country particularly on matters related to Brunei HoB Institutional Arrangement; status of the HoB projects implementation; the HoB related activities; as well as the HoB related conference and workshops that Brunei Darussalam hosted and also participated. On Institutional Arrangements, Brunei Darussalam informed the Meeting on the new structure of its HoB National Council members which include the appointment of H.E Pehin Dato Yahya Bakar as the new Chairman and the addition of Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport as the newest member in the Council; and the appointment of HRH Prince Haji Al- Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister s Office as the Royal Patron of Brunei HoB National Council, both received the consent from His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 18 January 2011 and 9 July 2011, respectively. The full country presentation of Brunei Darussalam appears as Annex 8. 7.2 Indonesia 13. Indonesia presented the progress of implementation the HoB Initiative at national level. The presentation outlined the HoB National Institutional Arrangement and spatial legal arrangements of the HoB area as a Nationalist Strategic Area (NSA). Indonesia also updated on the implementation of National HoB Strategic Plan of Action that includes Trans-boundary Management in Betung Kerihun National Park, Assessment on the Protected Areas Management Effectiveness using Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT) and Rapid Assessment and Prioritization Protected Area Management (RAPPAM), Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, Kapuas Hulu and Kayan Mentarang Ecotourism Activities, National Workshop on Ecotourism and Capacity Building. The full text of Indonesia s presentation appears as Annex 9. 14. The Meeting noted Indonesia s efforts in developing Sustainable Financing for the HoB Initiative Implementation, the launching of Sustainable Financing Report at UNCBD COP-10 and REDD+ implementation in the HoB Area. The meeting further noted Indonesia s near future plan of action to develop programmes on Natural Resources Management and Partnership to deliver a Green Economy. 7.3 Malaysia 15. The Meeting noted the information on updated status of the HoB Initiative in Malaysia, which highlighted the national institutional framework and 3 (three) priority areas in project/programme activities. 16. The Meeting was informed that the project/programme activities include Conservation Management Plan, Conservation Strategies for Telupid Forest Reserves Complex, Research and Development, Wildlife Protection and Enforcement, Development of Forest Monitoring Technology, Social Baseline Survey (SBS) and Community Forestry Programme (CFP), Enhancing Connectivity of Protected Areas, and Awareness Raising and Environmental Education. The full presentation is attached in Annex 10. 3
17. Malaysia stressed the need for serious rethinking of common issues to be addressed jointly in future programmes and activities of the HoB initiative. Agenda Item 8: Discussion on the Implementation of Trans-boundary Protected Area Management and Its Possible Link to Ecotourism Development 18. Indonesia presented the background, projects and its progress on the transboundary protected area management in Indonesia and its possible link to ecotourism development. To facilitate the process for developing collaborative programmes on Trans-boundary Protected Areas Management in the HoB member countries. Indonesia proposed to establish a Technical Committee on Transboundary Protected Areas (TbPA). The presentation and Term of Reference for the proposed Technical Committee appears as Annex 11. 19. The Meeting took note of the concerns from member countries and agreed to pursue this agenda item building upon the existing mechanism to include ecotourism development and related issues as well as to extend the membership to include Brunei Darussalam. 20. The Meeting recommended the contact persons from the respective member countries to study and revise the TOR and to report the progress at the 6 th Trilateral Meeting. Agenda Item 9: Discussion on the Proposed Formation of Technical Committee on GIS 21. Indonesia presented a Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of a Technical Committee on Geographic Information System (GIS). The task and duties of the proposed Technical Committee are, among others, to facilitate and analyze spatial data, and to develop communication platform for the HoB member countries. The ToR of the Establishment of Technical Committee on Geographic Information System (GIS) appears as Annex 12. 22. The Meeting took note of the concerns from the member countries on the scope of the proposed TOR. The Meeting requested Indonesia, in consultation with the focal points of other member countries, to revise the TOR to be more specific and focus. Agenda Item 10: Consideration on the Implementation of the Institution and Modalities for the HoB 23. Indonesia presented a Terms of Reference (ToR) for the establishment of a Technical Committee with the objectives of identifying possibilities for setting up a permanent secretariat of the HoB Initiative to improve better communication amongst member countries, as appears in Annex 13. 24. In view of the effectiveness of the current mechanism of the national arrangement for the HoB initiative implementation, the Meeting agreed to maintain the existing mechanism in the absence of the permanent secretariat. The Meeting also emphasized the importance of having better communication amongst the focal points. 4
Agenda Item 11: Any Other Business 11.1 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD/Rio+20) 25. Indonesia presented a paper on supporting the HoB Initiative through global partnership. In this regard, Indonesia proposed to organize a HoB side event at the Regional Preparation Meeting of the UNCSD to be held in Seoul, South Korea in October 19-20, 2011. The paper appears as in Annex 14. 26. The Meeting took note of the proposal and requested for further information from Indonesia to be provided to member countries at the earliest convenience for follow up actions with their relevant authorities. 11.2 BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Conference on the HoB and Coral Reefs, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam 9 March 2011 27. Brunei Darussalam informed the Meeting on the outcome of the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Conference on HoB and Coral Reefs which was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam on 9 March 2011, particularly on the Joint Ministerial Statement of the Conference in which among others the Ministers acknowledged and commended the progress achieved under the HoB initiative and the respective national initiatives of Member Countries on Coral Reefs to address challenges in biodiversity conservation in the sub-region; and underscored the importance of the two diverse ecological areas in the HoB and the Coral Reefs as well as their significant roles in mitigating climate change. The Ministers also expressed their appreciation and welcomed the role of the regional organizations/dialogue partners/development partners as well as the private sector to work together on the two initiatives in mitigating climate change including respective national efforts to reduce carbon emissions. The Ministers also maintain to cooperate and implement the strategy in conservation, sustainable forest and marine resources management, protection of endangered species and mitigation as well as adaptation of climate change. The full text of the Joint Ministerial Statement appears as Annex 15. 11.3 Logo of the HoB 28. Malaysia presented a proposed logo of the HoB Initiative to symbolize the unity of the three countries involvement in the HoB as well as to promote the initiative as appears in Annex 16. 29. The Meeting considered and agreed in principal with the proposed logo and requested Malaysia to revise the design and to circulate to member countries for immediate usage. 11.4 Song of the HoB 30. Indonesia proposed a song idea and concept by Mr. Awang Faroek Ishak, the current Governor of East Kalimantan Province, entitled The Heart of Borneo composed and written by Mr. Edwin Leo Mokodompit to be the official song of the HoB Initiative. 5
31. The Meeting considered and adopted the song as the HoB Initiative song with minor changes in the lyrics. The Meeting also requested Indonesia to include sites representing the uniqueness of each member country in the video clip and to be sung by artists from each member country, for the HoB-related purposes and not for commercial use. 32. The revised lyrics of the HoB song appears as Annex 17. Agenda Item 12: Venue and Date of the Next Meeting 33. Malaysia informed the Meeting that the 6 th HoB Trilateral Meeting will be organized in Sarawak, Malaysia. The exact date and venue will be advised in due course. Agenda Item 13: Adoption of the Report 34. The Meeting adopted the Report of the 5th Heart of Borneo (HoB) Trilateral Meeting held on 21 22 September 2011 in Balikpapan, Indonesia. Agenda Item 14: Closure of the Meeting 35. All delegates expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and the People of Indonesia for the warm hospitality accorded to them and the arrangements made for the Meeting. 36. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson thanked all delegates for their active participation and valuable contributions. 37. The Meeting also acknowledged the Secretariat for the hard work and dedication for the success of the 5 th HoB Trilateral Meeting. -------------- 6