Govt to proceed with oil palm project<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Tb. Arie Rukmantara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is likely to go on with its plan to use over 1
\nmillion hectares of tropical forests for oil palm plantations in
\nWest and East Kalimantan despite opposition from environmental
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban said that the
\nestablishment of the oil plantations in Kalimantan, which are
\nexpected to be the largest in the world, had very significant
\npolitical and economical value for the country.<\/p>\n
"Most of the (planned plantation) area would be located near
\nthe border (with Malaysia), which has been neglected in the
\npast," he told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.<\/p>\n
The government expects the establishment of the plantations to
\ncreate some 100,000 new jobs.<\/p>\n
The establishment of the oil plantations in the border areas
\nis seen as a way to strengthen the territory of Indonesia as well
\nas to improve the economic welfare of the people there, most of
\nwhom are living in poverty, Kaban said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Forestry is currently finalizing a report on
\nthe controversial plan, he said.<\/p>\n
"We expect to finish it this month. A presidential decree will
\nbe issued for the purpose," Kaban said.<\/p>\n
A number of environmental groups have warned that the
\nestablishment of the oil palm plantations, would lead to
\nenvironmental, social and economic losses.<\/p>\n
Funded by Chinese investors, the plantations will be located
\nin an area known as the Heart of Borneo, which is the only
\nremaining place in Southeast Asia where forests can be conserved
\non a massive scale.<\/p>\n
The Heart of Borneo is known as one of the richest areas in
\nterms of biodiversity in the world and one of only two places on
\nearth where endangered orangutans, pygmy elephants and rhinos
\nexist.<\/p>\n
Fourteen of 20 major rivers on the island originate from the
\nregion, making it the source of water for its inhabitants.<\/p>\n
Citing a study, some environmentalists also argued that the
\ntopographical condition of most parts of the Heart of Borneo was
\nnot suitable for oil palm plantations.<\/p>\n
Greenomics Indonesia also warned that the clearing of the rain
\nforests for plantations would damage the local economy. It
\nestimates that the plan, which would cost some US$8 billion,
\ncarries some Rp 27 trillion ($2.7 billion) in potential losses
\nannually due to environmental degradation.<\/p>\n
However, Kaban dismissed the warning, saying that the
\ngovernment would maintain the environment.<\/p>\n
"We would not allocate protected forests for the plantation.
\nIt would probably be less than 1 million hectares," he asserted,
\nadding that the government would require the plantation companies
\nto prepare measures to protect the environment.<\/p>\n
Indonesia currently produces 36 percent of the world's palm
\noil.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) -- which also
\nopposes the oil palm project on part of Borneo island -- said it
\nwould hold a two-day 3rd Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil
\n(RSPO) in Singapore starting Nov. 22 for the purpose of
\nformulating principles and criteria for an environmentally
\nfriendly palm oil industry.<\/p>\n
An RSPO was first held in 2003 by WWF and oil palm plantation
\nfirms, producers and buyers to discuss definitions for
\nresponsible conduct by oil palm plantations.<\/p>\n
"We expect the conference to formulate criteria for an
\nenvironmentally friendly oil palm plantation industry," said
\nFitrian Ardiansyah, WWF Indonesia Program Coordinator for Forest
\nRestoration and Threat Mitigation.<\/p>\n
He said the criteria included a requirement for oil palm
\nplantations not to threaten the existence of conservation
\nforests.<\/p>\n
"Plantation firms must not establish plantations in highly
\nprotected areas, must not cause forest fires and pollution, and
\nmust not spark social unrest among local people," Fitrian said.<\/p>",
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