2,300 await jungle jobs

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Governor H.M. Ardans urged forestry companies yesterday to employ 2,300 local residents in reforestation projects in the Bukit Soeharto forest reserve.

He said employing the residents would help speed up reforestation in the 63,000 hectares of national park and minimize losses due to fires that break out every dry season.

The residents, mostly those who occupy part of Bukit Soeharto, will be resettled because the forest is going to be a nature reserve.

"I'm optimistic the people will be highly motivated to work with the forestry companies," he said, reported Antara. (pan)