Perhutani, locals in row over forest management<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A dispute over the management of over 19,000 hectares of state
\nforest in Wonosobo, Central Java, is heating up, with local
\npeople and state-owned timber management company Perhutani
\nclaiming to be the best suited to manage the forest.<\/p>\n
The conflict revolves around the local government's decision
\nthrough Bylaw No. 22\/2001 in October last year to transfer the
\nmanagement of the state forest from Perhutani to local people.
\nThe move sparked a protest from Perhutani, which had managed the
\nforest for years.<\/p>\n
Perhutani has reportedly asked Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa
\nto urge Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno to revoke the
\nbylaw. It has also filed for a judicial review in the Supreme
\nCourt, saying the bylaw went against superior legislation.<\/p>\n
Sumaeri, leader of the Kedu-Banyumas Farmers' Union, whose
\nmembers include Wonosobo farmers, said on Wednesday that under
\nPerhutani management environmental damage to the forest would go
\nunchecked.<\/p>\n
\"We have difficulty in getting water for farming because of
\nmisconceived management by Perhutani. They have never involved us
\nin managing the forest, only a few rich people living around the
\nforest,\" he said after a discussion on the environment here.<\/p>\n
He said local people had proven their competence in forest
\nmanagement by winning the national reforestation award for five
\nconsecutive years since 1994. The people were also taking care of
\nanother 20,000 hectares of forest in Wonosobo.<\/p>\n
The productivity of community forests in Java always surpassed
\nthat of Perhutani forests.<\/p>\n
\"We are warning the central government that we will not pay
\nour taxes and will boycott the 2004 election if they revoke the
\nbylaw,\" Sumaeri said.<\/p>\n
Perhutani's head of corporate planning and development Bambang
\nAdjie Soetjahjo said that a bylaw could not overrule Perhutani's
\npowers.<\/p>\n
\"It is clear that under Government Regulations No. 53\/1999 and
\n34\/2002, we have the authority to manage state forests,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/perhutani-locals-in-row-over-forest-management-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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