Ministry, NGO cooperation on forest<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Forestry has signed a cooperation agreement
\nwith non-governmental organizations Indonesia Corruption Watch
\nand Greenomics Indonesia to ensure transparency in the awarding
\nof licenses in the forestry industry.<\/p>\n
Under the recently signed agreement, which is valid for one
\nyear, the three parties will team up to ensure that the awarding
\nof forest utilization licenses by the ministry to companies be
\nconducted in a "transparent, fair, effective and efficient" way,
\naccording to a press statement issued by the ministry.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, they will ensure that no corruption is involved
\nin the process of the determining licensees, as well as ensuring
\nthat the contracts are awarded to companies that comply with
\nsustainable development principles.<\/p>\n
The ministry will give the NGOs access to its database and
\nallow them to monitor the bidding process, "both directly and
\nindirectly".<\/p>\n
The forestry industry is known to be one of the most corrupt
\nsectors in the country as most of the licenses have been awarded
\nto companies based on their political connections rather than
\ntheir business acumen. Many of them later wiped out whole swaths
\nof natural forests, even in areas not stipulated under the
\nlicenses with total impunity. Little or no effort has been made
\nto replant the millions of hectares of denuded forest land. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ministry-ngo-cooperation-on-forest-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}