Eco-labeling violations will face no penalties<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Consumer countries of tropical timber will not
\nimpose penalties on wood producers that fail to meet eco-labeling
\nrequirements, but will provide incentives for those which prove
\nto be environmentally friendly.<\/p>\n
\"European countries have assured that countries which manage
\ntheir tropical forest concessions in an environmentally sound
\nmanner will have greater access to their market,\" said Minister
\nof Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo as he summed up the
\nresults of a discussion here yesterday with delegates from the
\nEuropean Parliament-Indonesia Friendship Association.<\/p>\n
The discussion was also attended by former state minister of
\npopulation and environment Emil Salim, environment expert Otto
\nSoemarwoto, a deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives,
\nIsmail Hasan Metareum, and timber tycoon Muhammad (Bob) Hasan.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after the discussion, Djamaludin said
\nthat tropical wood which passed eco-labeling criteria would also
\nhave better prices on the European market than those that didn't.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian government, he said, will also offer incentives
\nto companies which can demonstrate that they are capable of
\nconducting environmentally-sound forest management practices.<\/p>\n
Such incentives may include the easing of procedures for the
\nextension of forest concessions and the possibility of conducting
\nself-assessments.<\/p>\n
\"There may also be tax reductions, which is for the Finance
\nMinistry to decide, and premiums for good companies,\" Djamaludin
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Last June, the government appointed 61 forest concessionaires
\nfor a pilot project to determine the criteria for, and indicators
\nof, sustainable forest management.<\/p>\n
The project was mainly aimed at preparing forest
\nconcessionaires to enter the eco-labeling era and to be assessed
\nby an independent eco-labeling agency.<\/p>\n
The government has helped establish the national eco-labeling
\nagency by appointing Emil Salim to lead the Indonesian Eco-
\nlabeling Foundation, which is the eco-labeling working group for
\nwood-based products.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said recently that the results of the assessment,
\nhowever, would not effect the current status of the
\nconcessionaires.<\/p>\n
Voluntary<\/p>\n
He said yesterday that members of the delegation urged
\nIndonesians to consider environmental protection and management
\non a voluntary basis.<\/p>\n
They also suggested that results of environmental assessments
\nbe announced to the public, he said.<\/p>\n
\"They have urged us to follow their footsteps, such as by
\nimposing CO2 taxation and introducing tax reductions and
\npremiums,\" he said.<\/p>\n
A member of the delegation, Laurens J. Brinkhorst,
\nacknowledged that cultural, social and economic differences may
\nundermine Indonesia's efforts to copy the developed countries.<\/p>\n
\"As your society becomes more reformed, tensions between
\nvarious interests, namely those of non-governmental
\norganizations, will become less strong,\" he said, commenting on
\nthe role of non-governmental organizations in both developed and
\ndeveloping countries.<\/p>\n
Legislator Ismail, from the House's United Development Party
\nfaction, said that the delegation's visit to Indonesia was
\nexpected to \"open their eyes\" to the \"real life\" in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"Only after visiting our country do they know that we have a
\nreforestation program, for example,\" he cited.<\/p>\n
Timber tycoon Hasan said that by seeing the country, the
\ndelegation, which has made trips to Batam Island, Kalimantan,
\nAmbon, East Timor, East Nusa Tenggara and Bali, could provide a
\npositive view of Indonesia to the European Parliament.<\/p>\n
\"They can explain (to the Parliament) about the real
\nsituations in Indonesia. In the long run, it will be helpful to
\nboost our trade with them,\" Hasan said. (pwn)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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