Govt cuts annual logging rights by 40%<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry has reduced the annual
\nlogging rights of most forest concessionaires by 40 percent due
\nto their failure to meet government regulations, and is warning
\nthat they may lose their licenses if they cannot improve
\nperformance.<\/p>\n
\"More than 70 percent of the 580 forest concessionaires failed
\nto meet government regulations on forestry management last fiscal
\nyear and we cut their annual logging rights by 40 percent this
\nfiscal year,\" Minister of Forestry Djamaloedin Soeryohadikoesoemo
\ntold reporters here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"If they fail to meet the regulations again this fiscal year,
\nwe will revoke their concessions next fiscal year,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to the minister, concessionaires which operate
\nindustrial forests under a transmigration scheme are required to
\nallocate 50 percent of jobs in their areas for local people and
\nthe other 50 percent for transmigrants, who have been moved from
\nJava and other densely-populated islands.<\/p>\n
Djamaloedin said he had asked around 100 concessionaires
\noperating under the transmigration scheme to help people working
\nin a conversion forest to get land certificates.<\/p>\n
Concessionaires operating under a so-called village
\ndevelopment scheme are required to put aside a certain portion of
\ntheir revenue to finance the development of projects specially
\ndesigned to improve the living of local villagers.<\/p>\n
Djamaloedin noted that the licensing of concessionaires is
\naimed mainly at promoting the welfare of local people besides the
\ngenerating of tax revenues for the government. Concessionaires,
\ntherefore, are required to provide social facilities, such as
\nschools and hospitals, for local people, employ them and procure
\ngoods and services from them.<\/p>\n
Djamaloedin said if all concessionaires abide by the
\ngovernment regulations, conflicts between forest concessionaires
\nand indigenous people would never happen.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Dayak Bentian tribespeople in East
\nKalimantan, whose traditional forests were awarded to a
\nconcessionaire, PT Hutan Mahligai, in 1993, protested and
\ndemanded that the government revoke its license because it has
\nbeen destroying their habitat. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-cuts-annual-logging-rights-by-40-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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