INTRODUCING IRI INDONESIA
Indonesia has over 90 million hectares of tropical forests, the third-largest area in the world after Brazil and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It has the second highest diversity of mammals globally, and hosts 10% of the world’s flowering plants, 16% of its reptiles, and 17% of its bird species.
More than 99% of the population in Indonesia identifies as having a religious faith, including Muslim, Christian, Roman Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian. Across faith traditions is a common commitment to care for the environment, care for human beings and care for forests.
The Interfaith Rainforest Initiative Indonesia brings together religious leaders and faith communities from across the country to defend forests and the rights of those that serve as their guardians.
IRI INDONESIA NATIONAL LAUNCH
The IRI Indonesia country program was launched during a 2-day event in Jakarta from 30-31 January 2020 with the participation of over 250 religious leaders, indigenous peoples, NGOs, scientists, government leaders and the United Nations at the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Representatives from Protestant, Catholic, Hindu, Buddhist and Confucian faith groups, leaders from the three major Muslim organizations of the country (Indonesian Ulema Council, Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah), and the Indigenous Peoples' Alliance of the Archipelago (AMAN) came together in issuing a joint declaration of spiritual solidarity to protect Indonesia’s rainforests.
“We are ready to mobilize our communities, from the grassroots to the highest levels of leadership, to work together with governments, civil society groups, the private sector, and the UN to protect forests. We are ready to encourage the creation of policy changes and regulatory improvements that produce a system that will not allow opportunities for tropical forest damage.”
IRI INDONESIA PROVINCIAL CHAPTERS
IRI Indonesia is mobilizing action coalitions in regions of the country where forests face the greatest threats. Each provincial chapter is made up of Muslim, Hindu, Catholic and other faith communities, along with indigenous peoples, NGOs and scientists.
Over the last year, IRI Indonesia provincial chapters have been launched in Riau, East Kalimantan and West Papua, with more launches planned in the months ahead. Each launch has included the participation of senior government officials, including Governors and representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.
Provincial chapters are bringing the reach, mobilizing power and political influence of religious leaders and faith-based networks to bear in priority provinces, calling for action to protect forests and their guardians. All provincial chapters are engaging in action plans focused on education and awareness raising, public outreach campaigns, and influencing laws and public policies on the protection of forests and indigenous peoples.
RESOURCE GUIDES AND RELIGIOUS TEACHING BOOKS
IRI Indonesia has worked with all of the Religious Councils in the country on resource guides and religious teaching books on the protection of rainforests. The resource guides cover the science of forests, climate change, biodiversity, sustainable development and the rights of indigenous peoples, while the religious teaching books give faith leaders practical tools to incorporate calls for the protection of rainforests into their teaching, drawing from their respective spiritual traditions and sacred texts and scripture.
Interfaith Resource Guide (here)
Islam Resource for Religious Leaders and Faith Communities (here)
Buddhism Resource for Religious Leaders and Faith Communities (here)
Hindu Resource for Religious Leaders and Faith Communities (here)
Catholic Resource for Religious Leaders and Faith Communities (here)
TRAINING RELIGIOUS LEADERS AS RAINFOREST ADVOCATES
IRI Indonesia has worked in cooperation with all eight Religious Councils in the country to hold ‘training of trainer’ events, equipping thousands of leaders from each of the major faith traditions in the country with the tools and training needed to become powerful advocates for rainforest protection.
IRI Indonesia resource guides and religious teaching books have been used as the foundation of training events, and ongoing efforts are being made to mainstream these resources into schools and teaching curricula across the country.
FOREST RESTORATION PRIMER (ENGLISH)
ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERS
https://www.interfaithrainforest.org/
© Interfaith Rainforest Initiative
