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