EU helps forest protection

EU helps forest protection

JAKARTA (JP): The European Union (EU) is committed to
protecting the world's remaining tropical forests, including in
Indonesia, the director of an EU-funded forestry project said on
Wednesday.

Speaking at a recent workshop in Surabaya, East Java, John
Keating, the director of the Forest Liaison Bureau, said the EU
supports the government's efforts to protect and preserve the
country's forests.

The EU, through the European Commission (EC), is currently
funding six development aid projects in the forestry sector here.
The projects offer support in issues ranging from conservation to
production forest management, forest inventory and the management
and control of forest fires, he said.

"All the projects are incorporated in the EC-Indonesia Forest
Program (ECIFP), valued at approximately ECU140 million (US$127
million), of which the EC is financing ECU105 million by way of
grant assistance," said Keating. (29)