Mark Forbes, Nusa Dua, December 7, 2007, The Age

INDONESIA has hit out at developed countries for presenting "empty propaganda" during climate change talks in Bali and stalling proposals to pay to protect the world's forests.

The head of the Indonesian delegation, Emil Salim, launched the attack on the same day Indonesia released a proposal to reduce its emissions from forestry, which account for about 8% of the world's greenhouse emissions.

"When it comes to the negotiating table here in Bali, they only come with promises," Mr Salim said.

"When it comes to the negotiating table here in Bali, developed countries are stingy.

"Where are you?" Mr Salim asked of Australia, the United States and Britain.

Sources involved in the tense negotiations in Bali said several developed countries were blocking moves to endorse the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) scheme.

Developed countries were expressing concerns about the cost, expected to run into tens of billions of dollars, which would need to be funded by large emission cut targets. They also are questioning whether forest protection can be properly enforced and measured.

Some environmental groups have also attacked the con- cept, with Friends of the Earth saying it could be used by the West to avoid essential emissions cuts.

The scheme proposes a new "carbon credit" market, under which countries such as Indonesia earn credits by preserving forests. Those credits could then be bought by richer nations to offset emissions targets.

Some developing nations were also blocking elements of a draft agreement that would not benefit them, officials said.

Indonesia is proposing that it begin pilot programs to reduce logging and burn-offs next year. It wants the REDD scheme to be expanded worldwide and incorporated in the post-Kyoto agreement to be finalised in 2009.

Forestry Minister Malam Kaban said yesterday Indonesia could expect billions of dollars from the scheme.

He said Indonesia had finished initial studies and was ready to begin forest protection pilot programs to demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme.

The pilot programs would be used to ensure funds for forest protection reached local communities.

Mr Kaban also criticised the West. He said Indonesia was committed to preventing deforestation but had not received any commitments from developed nations. "We are hoping that before the end of the meeting we will receive such commitment."

At the Bali talks, developed nations are expressing concern about the lack of methodology, measurements and enforcement to ensure promises to protect forests are kept. Indonesia and developing nations are calling for a commitment to the scheme as well as pledging to produce the right mechanisms to deliver it.