Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) report | WPN World People News

In September 2015, the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (MoEF) announced the publication of a new Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL) report. This is the country’s official report to the UNFCCC, establishing baseline deforestation rates and emissions, and is a critical component of Indonesia’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) reporting.

The new FREL report, however, does not appear to have been submitted to the UNFCCC or published on any GOI website. Greenpeace obtained a copy unofficially. Greenpeace analysis of the document raised several issues of concern which Greenpeace shared with President Jokowi, the Minister for Environment and Forestry and the MoEF team responsible for the production of the FREL.

The FREL uses unpublished data and maps that are significantly different to recent Government of Indonesia reporting. The effect is to dramatically downplay the role of deforestation and peatland degradation and fires in Indonesia's emissions reporting.

Source: Greenpeace International