Concessionaires to gear up for eco-labeling

Concessionaires to gear up for eco-labeling

JAKARTA (JP): The names of forest concessionaires that are
considered prepared to meet eco-labeling requirements will be
announced later this month, an executive of the Association of
Indonesian Forest Concessionaires (APHI) says.

APHI Deputy Chairman Hendro Prastowo was quoted by Antara
yesterday as saying that the announcement would be made later
this month, but he declined to give a specific date.

He also would not to go into details about the number of
concessionaires which would be considered ready for eco-labeling,
saying that many were still being assessed.

Hendro pointed out, however, that the announcement did not
mean a concessionaire was fit to receive an eco-labeling
certificate indicating its environmentally-sound forest
management.

"It just implies that the concessionaire is ready to meet the
requirements," he said.

The eco-label will, in the next century, become a prerequisite
for producers of tropical timber to gain access to the markets in
certain consumer countries.

Director General of Forest Utilization Titus Sarijanto said
last November that Indonesia has been classified by the
International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) as one of the
countries most prepared to meet eco-labeling requirements.

Ghana and Malaysia were also considered to practice sound
forestry management.

Titus said at that time that more than 50 Indonesian forest
concessionaires were being assessed for their readiness to meet
eco-labeling requirements.

Since early 1970s, when the government started giving forest
concessions to companies, 111 concessions have been revoked due
to poor forest management. Currently, 491 forest concessionaires
operate in the country. (pwn)