'No more forest concessionaires'<\/p>\n
KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Governor La Ode Kaimuddin said
\nyesterday the province is closed to new logging concessionaires
\nbecause its forests need time to recover.<\/p>\n
\"Forest concessionaires may boost economic development, but in
\nour province they have caused substantial ecological and
\nfinancial damage,\" he was quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
He gave as a example the case of PT Gemini Timber in Kolaka
\nregency whose license to exploit 23,000 hectares of land was
\nrecently revoked because of the extensive damage it has caused in
\nthe forests. The company, which started operations in 1976, also
\nhad Rp 1.3 billion of land taxes in arrears.<\/p>\n
The governor said his office is currently compiling a list of
\nthe \"sins\" committed by concessionaires in the province, such as
\ntheir failure to develop the surrounding community. The list will
\nlater be submitted to the Minister of Forestry, he said.<\/p>\n
Kaimuddin said dozens of hectares of forest have been
\ndestroyed by timber companies. The province has 3.8 million
\nhectares of forests, including 420,800 hectares of protected
\nareas and 669,000 hectares of productive forests. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/no-more-forest-concessionaires-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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