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)