Environmentalists criticize draft ruling on forest use
Environmentalists criticize draft ruling on forest use
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Environmentalists have criticized a draft presidential regulation
on forest use as not providing protection for forests because of
its outright "pro-business agenda".
Friends of the Earth Indonesia executive director Chalid
Muhammad said that the draft regulation did nothing to prevent
further deforestation.
"If anything, the draft makes it easier for firms to exploit
and destroy forests," said Chalid on Thursday. "This is proof
that the government is kowtowing to the interests of big
investors," he said.
The draft regulation, a copy of which has been obtained by The
Jakarta Post, specifies the procedures needed for obtaining a
permit to conduct certain "strategic" and "public service"
activities in forests. The activities will only be allowed in
areas designated as protected or production forests.
The activities covered by the draft include mining, oil and
gas exploitation, electricity generation, construction of roads,
tollways and railways, laying of water pipes, building of
telecommunications facilities, erection of television and radio
facilities, and military use.
Although the draft regulation explicitly states that a forest
cannot be reclassified as a non-forest area to accommodate these
activities, Chalid criticized this provision as meaningless.
"The environmental functions of the affected forests will
still be altered no matter what their designation," he said.
Mining Advocacy Network coordinator Siti Maimunah said that
the draft regulation was clearly aimed at attracting more
investors, especially in the mining and oil and gas sectors.
"The regulation is the government's way of getting quick
cash," she said. "It will accelerate the exploitation of
resources."
The draft regulation would allow firms to obtain renewable 10-
year permits for mineral, oil and gas prospecting. Open-pit
mining would be prohibited in protected forests, but would be
allowed in certain production forests.
Meanwhile, the allocation of forest land for the construction
of electricity, telecommunications and water infrastructure, and
for those activities designated as public services, would be
allowed for the duration of the activities.
Those who obtain permits to conduct activities would be
required to compensate through planting of new forest areas of up
to twice the size of the affected area.
Maimunah said that the compensation requirement was
meaningless.
"If a forest is destroyed in one area, its functions cannot be
replaced in another area," she said.