Govt to allow Yamdena logging, despite protests<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will not resile from its decision
\nto permit state-run forestry company PT Inhutani I and privately-
\nowned PT Mohtra Agung Persada to exploit forest concessions in
\nYamdena, Maluku, despite protests from the Association of
\nTanimbar Intellectuals and local people.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo told a press
\nconference at his office here yesterday that he would not change
\nhis decision on Yamdena.<\/p>\n
"I respect the opinion of others, including those disagreeing
\nwith the exploitation of Yamdena. However, after considering all
\naspects, I have decided not to change my decision," Djamaludin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A delegation from the Association of Tanimbar Intellectuals
\npresented arguments against continued logging on the island on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
In a statement made available to the Jakarta Post, the
\nassociation argued against the government's granting new timber
\nlicenses to Inhutani and Mohtra, saying that it would destroy
\nYamdena's forests with their unique flora and fauna.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile sixteen village heads in Yamdena have signed a
\npetition opposing the entrance of Inhutani to Yamdena island,
\nAntara reported from Ambon, Maluku, yesterday.<\/p>\n
Hubertus Samangun of the association said that his group had
\nundertaken a study regarding the feasibility of exploiting
\nYamdena's forests in cooperation with the Soil and Climate
\nResearch Center in Bogor, West Java.<\/p>\n
"The results show that logging activities in Yamdena are not
\nfeasible for social, economic, cultural and environmental
\nreasons," Hubertus said.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said that logging by Inhutani and Mohtra would not
\ndestroy all of the island's forests.<\/p>\n
Not dangerous<\/p>\n
Quoting a study conducted by the agriculture school of Ambon's
\nPattimura University, Djamaludin said there was nothing dangerous
\nabout logging on the island as long as the loggers followed the
\nprinciples of sustainable forest management.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said that the results of the research showed that
\nthe logging would be harmless if concessionaires felled only 10
\nout of every 68 trees with diameters of over 60 centimeters per
\nhectare.<\/p>\n
"Inhutani and Mohtra will not cut down trees with diameters of
\nless than 60 centimeters. So, it is selective logging, not clear
\ncutting," Djamaludin said, adding that he had reduced the
\nconcession areas by more than 50 percent from 159,000 hectares to
\n77,000 hectares.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said logging in Yamdena was not meant to destroy
\nthe island's bio-diversity but to help develop the area, which,
\nhe said, had been left behind in comparison with Indonesia's
\nwestern provinces.<\/p>\n
Hubertus, however, questioned the validity of the research
\nconducted at Pattimura University, saying that the results of the
\nstudy had never been published and did not refer to the results
\nof a previous study conducted by his association.<\/p>\n
In 1992 and 1993, PT Alam Nusa Segar, a company affiliated
\nwith the powerful Salim Group, carried out logging on the tiny
\nisland. Its activities were halted after a series of protests
\nfrom local people.<\/p>\n
The ministry of forestry then issued a ruling temporarily
\nsuspending logging on the island and commissioning a review of
\nthe feasibility of further logging there.<\/p>\n
After the Pattimura University research gave a green light to
\nlogging on Yamdena, Minister Djamaludin gave permission to
\nInhutani and Mohtra to exploit the forest.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin said that the majority of Yamdena's native people
\nagreed with the exploitation of parts of their forests by
\nInhutani and Mohtra. The exploitation itself would start in
\nAugust, he said. (rid)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-allow-yamdena-logging-despite-protests-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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