Funds for E. Timor forests

DILI, East Timor (JP): The government has earmarked Rp 10 billion for forestry development in East Timor this fiscal year, Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said.

Speaking to journalists after attending a ceremony on forest fire control brigade here earlier this week, Djamaludin said the fund was part of the government's forestry development budget.

This fiscal year, the government budgets Rp 900 billion for the country's forestry development. Djamaludin explained that the budget included funds to develop industrial forest estates.

When speaking at the ceremony, Djamaludin said that controlling forest fires was the responsibility of all people, including East Timorese.

"Although there have been no reports of fires in East Timor's forests, if forests fires in western part of Indonesia cannot be controlled, the impact can reach the eastern part of Indonesia," Djamaludin said.

Last year, forest fires destroyed more than $15.6 million worth of forest estates in Sumatra and Kalimantan, with a total area of destroyed forest reaching 45,620 hectares.

The fires were blamed on local people using slash and burn agricultural techniques as well as careless forestry companies who used fire as a means to easily clear land. (yac/rid)