Forest conversion agreed

Forest conversion agreed

JAKARTA (JP): The government has so far allowed nine million
hectares of forest to be converted into plantations, the forestry
ministry's director general of inventory and forest management,
Sumahadi, said Tuesday.

"Most of the forest is in Sumatra and Kalimantan," he was
quoted by Antara. as saying.

He said the government had agreed to convert about 16 million
hectares of nonforest area into plantations.

About 30 million hectares of forested area can be converted
without government permission.

He said the converted forests were also used for
transmigration programs. (bnt)