Limited funds complicating efforts to put out forest fires

JAKARTA (JP): The government admitted on Friday that a lack of funds had hampered efforts to put out the spreading forest fires causing haze across many areas.

Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution said he had repeatedly asked the Ministry of Finance to release reforestation funds to finance efforts to combat the fires. "It's like facing a brick wall because of the red tape," he said.

Muslimin said his office now needs huge funds not only to put out the fires but also to combat timber theft and illegal tree- felling, which are occurring in several national parks.

"I had asked for Rp 118 billion only for the crash program. But the amount we need is far above Rp 118 billion," he said.

Muslimin said he would use the reforestation funds in his account that have not yet been transferred to the Minister of Finance's account to finance his office's efforts to combat the fires and stop looting.

"I will use the money even though I will be dragged to the state administration court for violating the presidential decree," he said, referring to the decree requiring him to transfer the reforestation funds to the state budget.

"But it is my responsibility to save our forests."

The reforestation fund is a mandatory fee imposed by the government on forest concessionaires to ensure that forests are managed in an environmentally sustainable manner. The size of the fee depends on the volume and type of timber felled.

Starting on April 1, the reforestation funds are accounted for in the state budget as non-tax receipts. Timber companies transfer their payments into the Minister of Forestry's account; the funds then will be transferred to the Minister of Finance's account and accounted for in the state budget.

Previously, the funds were kept in the Minister of Forestry's account. The allocation and use of the funds was governed by presidential decree.

Muslimin said the ministry would revoke the annual timber felling license given to forest concessionaires if they were found guilty of starting the fires.

He said that his office would fine industrial timber estate PT Perawang Sukses Perkasa Industri and timber firm PT Sri Buana Permai for allegedly violating a government ban on burning to clear land.

"The two companies are also obliged to rehabilitate the burnt forest and land," he said.

The ministry, in cooperation with Riau Police Headquarters, is also investigating two plantation companies, PT Peputra Masterindo and PT Jatimjaya. The ministry has warned the two companies over fires in their areas.

According to ministry data, as of July 31, forest fires have ravaged over 3,601 hectares, including forest reserves and national parks, in Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Satellite imaging from the U.S National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has detected that hot spots have spread to all 12 provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan by Wednesday, from five provinces in the previous week.

Most of the hot spots were found in Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra and West Kalimantan.

Haze from the fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan covered most of the region in 1997, causing serious health and transport hazards, and recurred in 1998, but to a lesser extent.

The government is under mounting pressure for its perceived indifference concerning fires.

However, Muslimin said his office was optimistic the current forest fires and haze resulting from the fires would not be as devastating as the 1997 fires. (gis)