Forest must produce fruits, not logs

Forest must produce fruits, not logs

SURABAYA, East Java: People around the Trawas forest area have
urged the local administration to adopt friendly forest
management policies to conserve the environment.

They suggested the office grow plantations that produce fruit,
not logs.

Syafruddin Ngulma of the Indonesian Institute of Environment
(Walhi) said on Monday that forest management should consider
some principles, including diversity, ecology, economy, education
and social life.

He suggested the government let local people play a role in
forest management. Environmental damage in the forest was
evidence that the state forest administration (Perhutani) was
incapable of doing its job.

Syafruddin suggested that the forest be renewed by planting
candlenut, jackfruit, morinda and sugar palm.

The diversity of plants, he said, would economically benefit
local people. - Antara