General Policy

The land management policies of the BTRF will, as far as practicable reflect 'world-best-practice' in protected area management. Policies will generally conform to the standards of global conservation authorities such as UNESCO and IUCN.

Forest Protection

The primary protection objective will be to protect all natural and cultural heritage values of the forests from threatening activities and processes. A particular priority will be the protection of all biodiversity values within the meaning of the Convention on Biological Diversity to which the Republic of Indonesia is a signatory.

Response to Threats

The sources of the main threats to the rainforest are roads, logging, fire and clearing for agriculture. Priority will be given to preventing illegal logging, fire and illegal occupation and clearing.

Development in Protected Forests

BTRF policy is to avoid any new development within the entrusted forest areas except for the purpose of:

• Improved protection of the rainforests
• Provision of visitor use facilities in accordance with an approved management plan.
• Essential community services for existing settlements within the vested area(s)
• Residential & agricultural development will be limited to settlement zones shown in management plans.

Proposals for major Government infrastructure (e.g. highways, power lines etc.) within the vested areas will require community consultation on the merits of the project, the feasible alternatives and environmental impact assessment and, where necessary, amendment of the management plans.

Partnerships

It is the policy of BTRF to as far as possible work in partnership with those that have a contribution to make to the protection and management of the rainforests, be they local communities, local government, government agencies, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Local communities

BTRF will seek to work cooperatively with local communities associated with the rainforests, including:

• As far as practicable, involve local forest communities in day to-day management of the forests.
• BTRF is committed to the establishment of dynamic Community Consultative Committees to act in an advisory capacity, as well as generally foster constructive, pro-active dialogue.

Indigenous inhabitants and communities

BTRF recognises that there are traditional indigenous communities living within the perimeter of some of the forests proposed to be entrusted to BTRF. BTRF policy on such indigenous peoples includes:

• Acknowledgement of any indigenous inhabitants of the protected forests and to work closely and cooperatively with them.
• Ensure that the transfer of stewardship of the forests to BTRF does not in any way extinguish or impair existing legal rights of the indigenous people.
• Negotiate a protocol with each indigenous community to cover such aspects as communications, BTRF access to traditional lands and respect for culture and custom.
• Provide traditional indigenous people5dependent on the forests with financial and other incentives to encourage forest conservation.

Local Government

BTRF recognises and acknowledges the new roles afforded local government as a consequence of 'Otonomi Daerah' and looks forward to working closely with the various local authorities across Kalimantan. BTRF will nominate one of its officers to assume an official liaison role with respect to each relevant Province, Kebupaten and Kecamatan so as to facilitate good communications.

Central Government

A comprehensive protocol defining the spirit, terms and conditions of BTRF's partnership with the GOI will be incorporated in the documents relating to the transfer of lands to BTRF trusteeship.

Management Planning

Fundamental to BTRF forest and land management is the principle of management planning where the emphasis is on the process more than any document that might arise from the process. However, until such management planning processes are in place a number of strategic decisions will have to be made in the interim without the benefit of a comprehensive consultation process.

Interim Management

• BTRF proposes to adopt at least the management principles of the Australian Natural Heritage Charter as the benchmark for interim management of natural heritage values and the Burra Charter for interim management of cultural heritage values.
• A strategic directions public document will be prepared to guide administration and management and to inform the community pending the planning process and preparation of a Management Plan.

BTRF commitments for management planning

BTRF commitments for management planning include:

• BTRF to give high priority to management planning for all lands vested in BTRF.
• BTRF to consult widely with respect to preparation of management plans.
• BTRF to consult with all major stakeholders of the rainforests, from indigenous traditional owners to Central Government, from neighbours to the global community.
• BTRF management plans to be publicly reviewed at least every 7 years.
• BTRF management plans to adopt a zoning approach similar to that adopted in National Parks. (A minimum of 50% of the total area is to be zoned as 'wilderness core' with no provision for development of any kind, independent of any degradation that may have occurred in the past).
• BTRF management plans to specify permitted and prohibitedactivities in the management area to provide a degree of certainty about the future of the forests.
• BTRF will seek legal mechanisms to ensure BTRF management plans have legal status in Indonesian law, as well as the possibility of being translated into law on the basis of due process.

Community Development

BTRF Protected Forest Management will be complemented by BTRF Community Development Programmes in communities adjacent to the forests. (see separate Information Leaflet on Community Development)