Good forestry policy needed

The National Movement for Forest and Land Rehabilitation recently launched by the government is worthy of praise. President Megawati Soekarnoputri reiterated the necessity to ensure successful reforestation and rehabilitation efforts.

However, such an appeal is not the first to have been made. Despite this, cases of illegal logging and natural disasters caused by forest denudation continue to fill the media. This means that the officials in charge have consistently failed to give effect to government policy.

Consistency on the part of the Ministry of Forestry is also needed, especially in the commercial forestry sector. If the government gives the proper opportunities to timber estate companies to survive, they will automatically carry out reforestation and rehabilitation as required.

In this context, the government should offer the best possible arrangements to forest-based businesses, like pulp and paper industries, so that they can operate their businesses successfully. This is essential given the large investments they have made and their labor intensive nature.

HANS SUTA WIDHYA Jakarta