Japan sends forest loan to RI

JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry said that it would receive equipment worth 32 million yen (about US$259,000) in grants from the Japanese government in February next year as part of the latter's promise to help Indonesia prevent forest fires.

Ministry spokesman Soedarmo said on Monday that the equipment would be used to preserve national parks, including Way Kambas in Lampung, Gunung Palung in West Kalimantan and Berbak in Jambi from the threat of fire.

The ministry is set to receive two speedboats, several fire trucks and patrol cars and dozens of radio communication apparatuses to support its program, Forest Fire Management II, from April 2001 until 2006, he added.

"The Japanese government will hold an auction for the purchase of the equipment next month, and we will receive them in February next year," he said.

He added that the ministry selected the four national parks because they were the easiest to control.(05)