EcoTourism to Protect Forests

Indonesia is the worlds fifth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, most of it caused by forest degradation. But it is determined to address the problem by ratifying the Paris agreement to mitigate carbon emissions and commit itself to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), among other initiatives. Last November, Tempo English visited West Sumatra to report on projects aimed at reducing this environmental scourge. In Sungai Buluh village at Padang Pariaman, residents created a new eco-tourism attraction: a tree house at the peak of a rocky hill. Additionally, their mushroom farms provide them with an alternative source of income.