Limited funds complicating efforts to put out forest fires<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government admitted on Friday that a lack of
\nfunds had hampered efforts to put out the spreading forest fires
\ncausing haze across many areas.<\/p>\n
Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution said he
\nhad repeatedly asked the Ministry of Finance to release
\nreforestation funds to finance efforts to combat the fires. \"It's
\nlike facing a brick wall because of the red tape,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Muslimin said his office now needs huge funds not only to put
\nout the fires but also to combat timber theft and illegal tree-
\nfelling, which are occurring in several national parks.<\/p>\n
\"I had asked for Rp 118 billion only for the crash program.
\nBut the amount we need is far above Rp 118 billion,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Muslimin said he would use the reforestation funds in his
\naccount that have not yet been transferred to the Minister of
\nFinance's account to finance his office's efforts to combat the
\nfires and stop looting.<\/p>\n
\"I will use the money even though I will be dragged to the
\nstate administration court for violating the presidential
\ndecree,\" he said, referring to the decree requiring him to
\ntransfer the reforestation funds to the state budget.<\/p>\n
\"But it is my responsibility to save our forests.\"<\/p>\n
The reforestation fund is a mandatory fee imposed by the
\ngovernment on forest concessionaires to ensure that forests are
\nmanaged in an environmentally sustainable manner. The size of the
\nfee depends on the volume and type of timber felled.<\/p>\n
Starting on April 1, the reforestation funds are accounted for
\nin the state budget as non-tax receipts. Timber companies
\ntransfer their payments into the Minister of Forestry's account;
\nthe funds then will be transferred to the Minister of Finance's
\naccount and accounted for in the state budget.<\/p>\n
Previously, the funds were kept in the Minister of Forestry's
\naccount. The allocation and use of the funds was governed by
\npresidential decree.<\/p>\n
Muslimin said the ministry would revoke the annual timber
\nfelling license given to forest concessionaires if they were
\nfound guilty of starting the fires.<\/p>\n
He said that his office would fine industrial timber estate PT
\nPerawang Sukses Perkasa Industri and timber firm PT Sri Buana
\nPermai for allegedly violating a government ban on burning to
\nclear land.<\/p>\n
\"The two companies are also obliged to rehabilitate the burnt
\nforest and land,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The ministry, in cooperation with Riau Police Headquarters,
\nis also investigating two plantation companies, PT Peputra
\nMasterindo and PT Jatimjaya. The ministry has warned the two
\ncompanies over fires in their areas.<\/p>\n
According to ministry data, as of July 31, forest fires have
\nravaged over 3,601 hectares, including forest reserves and
\nnational parks, in Sumatra and Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Satellite imaging from the U.S National Oceanic and
\nAtmospheric Administration has detected that hot spots have
\nspread to all 12 provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan by
\nWednesday, from five provinces in the previous week.<\/p>\n
Most of the hot spots were found in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra
\nand West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Haze from the fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan covered most of
\nthe region in 1997, causing serious health and transport hazards,
\nand recurred in 1998, but to a lesser extent.<\/p>\n
The government is under mounting pressure for its perceived
\nindifference concerning fires.<\/p>\n
However, Muslimin said his office was optimistic the current
\nforest fires and haze resulting from the fires would not be as
\ndevastating as the 1997 fires. (gis)<\/p>",
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