Regions race to issue licenses<\/p>\n
Nearly every regency in Kalimantan, Sumatra and Papua has
\nissued an average of 150 timber licenses per year, each covering
\nan area of up to 10,000 ha, according to the report from the
\nInspectorate General of the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
The report, which was seen by The Jakarta Post last week, does
\nnot provide a comprehensive report on the total licenses issued
\nby the regencies, but only gives some examples.<\/p>\n
Sintang regency in West Kalimantan, between 2001 and 2002,
\nissued 409 licenses covering a total area of 41,000 ha. The
\nregency has targeted its timber output to reach 1.26 million
\ncubic meters per year, according to the report.<\/p>\n
In Sanggau, another regency in West Kalimantan, the local
\nadministration has targeted an output of 400,000 cubic meters of
\ntimber per year.<\/p>\n
The target is indeed alarming as the ministry has limited the
\nlog output this year to only 6.5 million cubic meters, from 12
\nmillion last year, in order to help reduce deforestation.<\/p>\n
"We just cannot imagine how detrimental the regencies' moves
\nhave been to our forests. What will happen if 100 regencies
\ntarget the same output?" said Lumisu.<\/p>\n
Issuance of such licenses is also widespread in Papua, but in
\na different way, he said.<\/p>\n
In that area, businesspeople use easily manipulated tribal
\nchiefs to obtain licenses.<\/p>\n
Under the local regulations, a tribe can apply to the
\nprovincial government for the right to develop tanah adat
\n(traditional land), of up to 10,000 ha.<\/p>\n
Once they obtain the licenses, they pass them on to the
\nbusinesspeople who have urged them to apply for them in the first
\nplace. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regions-race-to-issue-licenses-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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