Fairer use of natural riches called for

Fairer use of natural riches called for

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of traditional communities, the
business sector, non-governmental organizations, scholars and the
government ended a three-day gathering here on Thursday to
formulate strategies for sustainable and community friendly
natural resource exploitation.

"It was the first time all parties involved in natural
resource exploitation sat down together," State Minister of the
Environment Sonny Keraf said of the National Conference on
Natural Resource Management.

Outspoken economist Faisal Basri from the University of
Indonesia said that while the country heavily relied on natural
exploitation for its development, sustainability was never a
concern.

Among notable recommendations drafted in the meeting was for
greater attention to local concerns and aspirations in the
formulation of the development of policies and a need for
regulations pertaining to natural resources with emphasis on the
rights of traditional societies.

With the theme "Toward Just and Sustainable Natural Resource
Management for Community Welfare", the meeting also stressed the
need for the state to reduce its monopoly in determining
environmental management.

The head of the organizing committee, Julia Kalmirah from the
Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi), said results of the
conference would be submitted to the National Development
Planning Agency (Bappenas).

The agency, which assists the president in implementing
national policy, is scheduled to submit the national development
program for 2001-2005 to the House of Representatives on June 1.
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