Mining in protected forests under fire<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani and Rendi Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A green activist blasted the government's and the House of
\nRepresentatives' plan to allow 15 mining companies to resume
\ntheir operations in protected-forest areas, saying that several
\nNGOs were ready to file a lawsuit against the government and the
\nHouse over the plan.<\/p>\n
"Should a presidential decree be issued, allowing the
\noperations to proceed, my organization, along with dozens of
\nother environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
\nready to file a lawsuit," said Chalid Muhammad, national
\ncoordinator of Network for Mining Advocacy (Jatam).<\/p>\n
"Over the past three months, we have raised support (against
\nthe plan) of about 1,000 people," he added.<\/p>\n
He said that the planned decree would violate Law No. 41\/1999
\non forestry, which bans open-cast mining in protected forests.<\/p>\n
"If the companies resume operations, the environmental and
\nsocial costs Indonesia will have to pay are much higher than the
\ngains from those companies, as environmental damage is
\nirreparable," said Chalid.<\/p>\n
He listed the potential negative impacts of the planned
\ndecree: Changes in the micro-climate, decreased biodiversity,
\nshrinking of water catchment areas and heightened possibilities
\nof natural disasters.<\/p>\n
"There will also be potential horizontal conflicts between the
\nsurrounding communities and the companies," he said.<\/p>\n
Conflicts of interest between mining companies and those
\nfighting for sustainable development and the environment have
\nbeen the subjects of heated discussions at the House and several
\nministries for the past few months.<\/p>\n
Law No. 41\/1999 has affected the operations of many mining
\ncompanies, as their mining sites were later designated as
\nprotected forest areas. The mining companies, which had made huge
\ninvestments, protested the law and subsequent decisions as they
\nran contrary to the contracts they had signed with the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
Havizi Kurnain, a member of House Commission III for forestry
\nand agriculture, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the plan
\nwas waiting for approval from the House.<\/p>\n
"Without our approval, the decree cannot be issued. We will
\nhold meetings to discuss the issue this week, or next week," he
\nadded.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, a ministerial meeting at the office of the
\nCoordinating Minister for Economic Affairs reportedly approved
\nthe plan to allow 15 mining companies to resume operating in
\nprotected-forest areas.<\/p>\n
Mining companies to resume operations in protected forests<\/p>\n
Company concessions in protected forests (ha)
\n1. Freeport Indonesia 203,740
\n2. Nabire Bakti Mining 201,550
\n3. Meratus Sumber Mas 37,590
\n4. Newmont Nusa Tenggara 65,200
\n5. Karimun Granite 4,090
\n6. International Nickel Indonesia 219,330
\n7. Natarang Mining 49,740
\n8. Citra Palu Minerals 138,020
\n9. Nusa Halmahera Minerals 366,610
\n10. Weda Bay Nikel 90,020
\n11. Gag Nickel 6,060
\n12. Indominco Mandiri 6,880
\n13. Meares Soputan Mining not available
\n14. Arutmin Indonesia not available
\n15. Aneka Tambang not available<\/p>\n
Source: Kompas and Forestry Planning Agency at the Ministry of
\nForestry<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/mining-in-protected-forests-under-fire-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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