On August 25-26, 2025, the West Kalimantan Provincial Government received a visit from a representative of the Norwegian Development Cooperation Agency (NORAD), Ms. Borghild Tonnessen-Krokan. She was accompanied by representatives of the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta, Ms. Anja Lingjerde Lillegraven and Ms. Dewi Tresya, as well as the Country Coordinator of the Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force (GCFTF) in Indonesia.
NORAD has been the principal sponsor of the GCFTF, in which West Kalimantan has been a member since 2010. Therefore, NORAD’s visit also included discussions regarding West Kalimantan’s experience with participation, challenges, plans and input for future activities at the GCFTF.
On this occasion, the NORAD representative visited the West Kalimantan Provincial Environment and Forestry Office and was received by the Head of the Office, Mr. Adi Yani, and the Head of the Environmental Planning and Supervision Division, Ms. Yenni Almuthahar. Also meeting with the group was Prof. Gusti Hardiansyah from Tanjungpura University, who has been part of the West Kalimantan provincial delegation to the GCFTF since the province’s initial participation.
The Norway representatives were also welcomed by the Governor of West Kalimantan, Mr. Ria Norsan, during an audience at the Governor’s Office, where he received an appreciation for his leadership in supporting sustainable forest management and climate change initiatives. On this occasion, the Governor also expressed his hope that NORAD’s cooperation and support on forest and climate change would continue to grow.
Before concluding the visit, the group also visited the Forest Products Gallery in Pontianak and the peatland management site in Limbung Village, managed by the Kubu Raya FMU. Here, the representatives also visited several canal blocking sites and monitoring wells, met with village leaders and the local Fire Awareness Community (Masyarakat Peduli Api – MPA), and learned about a collaborative agroforestry activities with the community, which are expected to help balance the peatland’s role as ecological protection and economic potential.
The GCFTF appreciates this visit from NORAD and the Norwegian Embassy, especially as it helped highlight the ongoing efforts at all levels within West Kalimantan, and the important role this network continues to have in supporting its member jurisdictions.
