Last Friday (5/3) between 3 to 4 p.m., RUPES was on the Green Talk, a radio program where government and non-governmental organizations as well as private companies can talk about various issues related to environmental protection. Green Talk is aired 5 times a week on 89.2 FM by Green Radio, a Jakarta based radio station boasting as the only radio station in Indonesia broadcasting programs focusing environmental protection issues and activities.

By using samples of environmental services (ES) reward schemes currently implemented in Cidanau (Banten), Singkarak (West Sumatra), and Sumberjaya (Lampung), RUPES Program Manager, Beria Leimona, explained some basic concepts of ES reward transaction to radio listeners. She also urged private companies to consider ES schemes for long term and more measurable impacts of their CSR (Company Social Responsibly) funds.

“The current CSR programs should look beyond short-term or crash programs as our environment needs longer term investment for providing the sought services. ES reward schemes can help!” said Leimona.

She highlighted the ES reward scheme facilitated by Forum Komunikasi DAS Cidanau (FKDC) of Banten, bridging upland smallholder farmers on Cidanau watershed as ES providers and Krakatau Tirta Industri (KTI), a private water company acting as buyer, in an ES reward transaction now in preparation for the next contract period.

“KTI makes use of its CSR fund to help protecting the small Cidanau crater, their source of water. Water availability in the crater is useful for KTI’s long term business as well.” said Leimona concluding the radio program.