Deforestation in Indonesia

Deforestation in Indonesia

Some time ago, I read in the papers that Surya Hutani Jaya of Indonesia and Siam Cement company of Thailand would jointly construct a pulp plant in Kutai, East Kalimantan with an investment of US$700 million. I believe that this investment will positively affect other logging companies and lead them in the right direction of preventing further deforestation.

It is apparent that the project will supply enough pulp export and help replace areas that are logged with newly planted trees. Also, it might help improve the well-being of Kalimantan people, giving them better forests to live in and so they hunt animals.

In my opinion, Kalimantan's forest should be preserved for scientific research purposes. It can also be preserved as a national park to limit logging in the forests. Finally, I suggest that the government limit permits to forest concessionaires.

DONG SUK SUNG

Jakarta