Lumber firms need strong commitment to sustainability<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaloedin
\nSoeryohadikoesoemo said yesterday that the timber firms of the
\nfuture will have a strong commitment to sustainability, high
\nsensitivity to global and environmental changes, strong attention
\nto cultural issues and broad horizons.<\/p>\n
Djamaloedin told participants at a seminar entitled \"The
\nPortrait of Indonesian's Tropical Forests in the 21st Century,\"
\nthat the ministry is committed to sustainable harvesting.<\/p>\n
\"This policy will be implemented consistently for the sake of
\nIndonesia's future,\" he said, adding that the ministry has
\nstarted to take measures against concessionaires which have
\nviolated their agreements with the government.<\/p>\n
Another speaker at the seminar, former state minister of
\nenvironment Emil Salim, stressed that Indonesia will preserve its
\nrain forest for the sake of the Indonesian people.<\/p>\n
\"They (Western countries) were stupid because they failed to
\npreserve their forests. Why should we also be stupid?\" he said,
\nin a response to a participant who criticized Western countries
\nfor pressuring Indonesia to reduce logging in an attempt to make
\nIndonesian timber less competitive.<\/p>\n
Other speakers at the seminar included State Minister of
\nNational Development Planning Ginanjar Kartasasmita, timber
\ntycoon Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, Amha Bin Buang of the Malaysia-based
\nInternational Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), President of
\nthe Netherlands Timber Trade Association Klaas W. Kuperus,
\nDirector General of the Center for International Forestry
\nResearch Jeffrey Sayer and Chairman of the Swiss-based Forest
\nStewardship Council Christopher Elliot.<\/p>\n
The seminar was organized to commemorate the 25th anniversary
\nof PT International Timber Corporation Indonesia (ITCI), whose
\nshareholders are Yayasan Kartika Eka Pakci, an ABRI-owned
\nfoundation, PT Bimantara Citra and the Nusamba Group.<\/p>\n
Support<\/p>\n
All speakers stressed the importance of support from all
\nquarters for sustainable development programs.<\/p>\n
Hasan said that the international community has been
\nunfortunately misled about Indonesia's reforestation program.<\/p>\n
\"These aspects are not always deliberate or dishonest, but
\nthey do persist in our global dialogue and they need to be
\nexplained,\" Hasan said, adding that more dialogue is needed to
\ninform foreign countries and non-governmental organizations about
\nthe success of reforestation programs here.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the selective cutting program, which
\nprohibits timber firms from cutting trees with a diameter of less
\nthan 50 centimeters, and a requirement that trees can not be cut
\nuntil after they are 35 years old have ensured sustainable forest
\nmanagement in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Emil, however, noted that the criteria for sustainability and
\nthe concept of eco-labeling should be clearly defined.<\/p>\n
\"Different countries have different kinds of forests and each
\nof them should adopt its own criteria on sustainability,\" Emil
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He added that timber firms cannot look down on the eco-
\nlabeling program on the grounds that consumers will be the ones
\nto judge the sustainability of a timber firm.<\/p>\n
\"If customers in Western countries, who care for our rain
\nforests, disbelieve in our sustainable reforestation, we will be
\nfinished,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to Emil, Indonesian timber firms usually lose the
\nsympathy of the international community because they fail to show
\nthe world that a bottom-up approach to preserve forests has been
\nmaintained here.<\/p>\n
Some of the around 500 participants of the seminar, who came
\nfrom various countries, aired their concerns on whether Indonesia
\nwill still have its vast and important rain forests in 2020, as
\nthe enforcement of laws to protect the forests is very poor.(09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lumber-firms-need-strong-commitment-to-sustainability-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}