Inhutani to take over 18 forest concessions<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry has instructed a state-
\nowned timber firm, PT Inhutani I, to take over the management of
\n18 privately-run concessions following their failure to comply
\nwith regulations on sustainable forest management.<\/p>\n
\"The objective of the takeover is no more than preserving our
\nnatural resources,\" said Abdul Fattah, the president of Inhutani
\nI, in a press conference here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta-based Inhutani I, established in 1973, manages
\nsome 2.3 million hectares of forests in East Kalimantan,
\nspreading from Tarakan to Balikpapan.<\/p>\n
The company's activities include logging, wood processing,
\ndevelopment of plantation forests, replantation of deserted
\nnatural forests as well as giving guidance to small-scale
\nbusinesses and cooperatives.<\/p>\n
Fattah said the ministry handed over the management of PT
\nPanca Olah Rimba's 40,000-hectare forests in East Kalimantan to
\nInhutani I in 1990.<\/p>\n
In 1991, Inhutani I got the concessions of four more
\ncompanies, comprising of PT Maskumambang (50,000 hectares in
\nSouth Sulawesi), PT Cidatim (95,000 hectares in East Kalimantan)
\nPT Sewarga, (35,000 hectares in East Kalimantan) and PT Sylva
\nDuta (100,000 hectares in South Sulawesi). In 1992, part of the
\nforests of PT Porodisa Trading Corporation was given to Inhutani
\nI.<\/p>\n
Other concessions<\/p>\n
Eleven timber estates were given to PT Inhutani I in 1993,
\nincluding PT Bina Wana Sejahtera (131,000 hectares in North
\nSulawesi), PT Dayak Besar Agung (82,000 hectares in East
\nKalimantan), PT Dwi Warna (37,500 hectares in East Kalimantan),
\nPT Kayu Mas Timber (60,000 hectares in East Kalimantan), PT
\nMeranti SMD K. (25,000 hectares in East Kalimantan), PT Meratus
\nKaltim (56,000 hectares in East Kalimantan), PT Nata Marga Jaya
\n(40,000 hectares in East Kalimantan), PT New Timber Raya (60,000
\nhectares in East Kalimantan), PT Pulau Laut Timber Corporation
\n(30,000 hectares in East Kalimantan), PT Sumber Buana S. (27,000
\nhectares in East Kalimantan) and PT Dayak Besar VTC (also in East
\nKalimantan).<\/p>\n
Fattah said that the ministry is currently negotiating to hand
\nover the controversial concession of PT Alam Nusa Segar on
\nYamdena Island, Maluku, to the state-owned timber company.<\/p>\n
He said that in a bid to control and to supervise privately-
\nrun concessions, Inhutani I has bought the shares of eight
\nconcessionaires.<\/p>\n
Suwarni, the financial director of Inhutani I, said in the
\npress conference that the company's assets increased from Rp 119
\nbillion (US$54.8 million) in 1992 to Rp 157 billion in 1993,
\nwhile its net profit increased from Rp 1.78 billion to Rp 12.57
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Fattah told reporters that the
\nreasons of international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to
\nprotest and to boycott made-in-Indonesia wood-based products are
\nnot only based on commitments to sustainability but also
\npolitical and trade interests.<\/p>\n
\"Everyone agrees that forests must be sustained and rules are
\nneeded to ensure their sustainability. But there is a possibility
\nof hidden protectionism in their environmental campaigns,\" he
\nsaid. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/inhutani-to-take-over-18-forest-concessions-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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