Realization of timber estates far below target<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Forestry companies given concessions to develop
\ntimber estates to support their pulp and paper plants have so far
\nplanted less than a quarter of the 4.05 million hectares of
\ntimber estates targeted by the government.<\/p>\n
According to a statistical report of the Ministry of
\nForestry's Directorate for Forest Management Supervision, as of
\nDec. 1995, forestry companies had managed to develop only 519,781
\nhectares or 13 percent of the 4.05-million-hectare target since
\nthe government started issuing concessions for pulp-timber
\nestates in 1989.<\/p>\n
From the planted areas of 519,781 hectares, 493,508 hectares
\nor 95 percent were located within the areas of 13 concessionaires
\nthat the government initially gave pulp-timber estate concessions
\nto.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Forestry, after issuing permits to the 13
\nconcessionaires in 1989, stopped issuing new permits for
\nenvironmental reasons. Timber estates, which can start being
\nharvested between this year and 1998, are expected to reduce
\nburdens on natural forests.<\/p>\n
Forestry experts recently predicted that Indonesia's pulp
\nindustry will soon face shortages of raw materials.<\/p>\n
The 13 concessionaires developing pulp-timber estates are PT
\nTusam Hutani Lestari, which is currently collaborating with
\nstate-owned PT Inhutani IV in Aceh; PT Indonusa Indrapuri, with
\nInhutani IV in Aceh; PT Inti Indo Rayon Utama in North Sumatra;
\nPT Wirakarya Sakti in Riau; PT Arara Abadi Indah in Riau; PT Riau
\nAndalan Pulp and Paper in Riau; PT Musi Hutan Persada, with
\nInhutani II in South Sumatra; and PT Menara Hutan Buana, with
\nInhutani II in South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
The concessionaires operating in East Kalimantan are PT ITCI
\nHutani Manunggal, PT Surya Hutani Jaya, PT Tanjung Redep and PT
\nAdindo Foresta, all of which are collaborating with Inhutani I.
\nThe other concessionaire is the Enzo Forest Development
\nCorporation, which cooperates with Inhutani III in West
\nKalimantan.<\/p>\n
When pulp and paper prices on the international market began
\ngoing up early last year, the government decided to resume
\nissuing licenses for pulp-timber plantations.<\/p>\n
Proposals<\/p>\n
So far, nine additional forestry companies have submitted
\ntheir proposals to the ministry, requesting permits to develop
\npulp-timber estates. To obtain the permits, the government has
\nstipulated that the companies must have already built pulp-
\nproduction factories beforehand.<\/p>\n
The report, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post
\nyesterday, shows that the nine companies, which have gained
\ntemporary permits, will be allotted 1.42 million hectares of land
\nto be used for their timber estates. So far, however, they have
\nplanted only 26,273 hectares.<\/p>\n
The nine firms that have already submitted proposals are PT
\nSSPI and PT Kumala Karya Lestari in North Sumatra, PT Intan Prima
\nCell in Riau, PT Pakerin in South Sumatra, PT Sinar Alam Lestari
\nand PT Dharma Tri Eka S. in East Kalimantan, PT Sinar Kalbar Raya
\nand PT Citra Jaya Industri in West Kalimantan and PT Guhara
\nLestari Cell in Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's pulp and paper industry, which currently has a
\nproduction capacity of 1.04 million tons a year, needs some 5.2
\nmillion cubic meters of timber a year. Raw materials for the
\nindustry are presently still obtained from small-sized wood from
\nland-clearing and forest conversion projects. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/realization-of-timber-estates-far-below-target-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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