Concessionaires must replant trees: Minister
Concessionaires must replant trees: Minister
JAKARTA (JP): The government will next year require
concessionaires to replant 20 trees for every one they cut down
in their forest concessions, Minister of Forestry Djamaludin
Suryohadikusumo said yesterday.
"Until now we only appeal to them to replant trees. But next
year we'll require them to replant 20 trees for every one they
cut," he announced after installing a number of senior officials
at his ministry.
He said that the government was preparing a regulation on the
replanting obligation.
"By next year, it will no longer be just an appeal.
Concessionaires will have to comply with the replanting rule," he
said, adding that those which fail to meet the requirement will
be subjected to penalties.
Currently, the government obliges each concessionaire to pay a
forest royalty, forest production fee and reforestation fee.
The appeal on tree replanting was made after the ministry
abolished the compulsory reforestation guarantee fund two years
ago.
"Next year, every concessionaire will be required to have a
seedling nursery of its own and replant 20 trees for every tree
they harvest from their forest concessions," he noted.
Djamaludin stated that the replanting policy is necessary to
show the international community that Indonesia plants more trees
than it cuts down.
He added that the replanting requirement will become one of
the criteria for concessionaires to obtain their yearly logging
permits.
He pointed out that the government will strengthen the
enforcement of all requirements imposed on forest
concessionaires.
"Before granting them logging permits, we'll check their
compliance with our rulings. How many trees they have planted and
how many of them are growing well. What their heights and species
are," Djamaludin said.
At the ceremony, Minister Djamaludin installed Mochamad Said
as president of the state-owned forestry company PT Inhutani II,
replacing Abdul Malik, and Hendarsun Suryanda Sanusiputera as
chief commissioner of the company.
The minister also installed Sri Soediharto and Muhandis
Natadiwirya respectively as production director and development
director of the state-owned forestry company PT Inhutani I. (13)