Lumber firms need strong commitment to sustainability
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaloedin Soeryohadikoesoemo said yesterday that the timber firms of the future will have a strong commitment to sustainability, high sensitivity to global and environmental changes, strong attention to cultural issues and broad horizons.
Djamaloedin told participants at a seminar entitled "The Portrait of Indonesian's Tropical Forests in the 21st Century," that the ministry is committed to sustainable harvesting.
"This policy will be implemented consistently for the sake of Indonesia's future," he said, adding that the ministry has started to take measures against concessionaires which have violated their agreements with the government.
Another speaker at the seminar, former state minister of environment Emil Salim, stressed that Indonesia will preserve its rain forest for the sake of the Indonesian people.
"They (Western countries) were stupid because they failed to preserve their forests. Why should we also be stupid?" he said, in a response to a participant who criticized Western countries for pressuring Indonesia to reduce logging in an attempt to make Indonesian timber less competitive.
Other speakers at the seminar included State Minister of National Development Planning Ginanjar Kartasasmita, timber tycoon Muhammad (Bob) Hasan, Amha Bin Buang of the Malaysia-based International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), President of the Netherlands Timber Trade Association Klaas W. Kuperus, Director General of the Center for International Forestry Research Jeffrey Sayer and Chairman of the Swiss-based Forest Stewardship Council Christopher Elliot.
The seminar was organized to commemorate the 25th anniversary of PT International Timber Corporation Indonesia (ITCI), whose shareholders are Yayasan Kartika Eka Pakci, an ABRI-owned foundation, PT Bimantara Citra and the Nusamba Group.
Support
All speakers stressed the importance of support from all quarters for sustainable development programs.
Hasan said that the international community has been unfortunately misled about Indonesia's reforestation program.
"These aspects are not always deliberate or dishonest, but they do persist in our global dialogue and they need to be explained," Hasan said, adding that more dialogue is needed to inform foreign countries and non-governmental organizations about the success of reforestation programs here.
He stressed that the selective cutting program, which prohibits timber firms from cutting trees with a diameter of less than 50 centimeters, and a requirement that trees can not be cut until after they are 35 years old have ensured sustainable forest management in Indonesia.
Emil, however, noted that the criteria for sustainability and the concept of eco-labeling should be clearly defined.
"Different countries have different kinds of forests and each of them should adopt its own criteria on sustainability," Emil said.
He added that timber firms cannot look down on the eco- labeling program on the grounds that consumers will be the ones to judge the sustainability of a timber firm.
"If customers in Western countries, who care for our rain forests, disbelieve in our sustainable reforestation, we will be finished," he added.
According to Emil, Indonesian timber firms usually lose the sympathy of the international community because they fail to show the world that a bottom-up approach to preserve forests has been maintained here.
Some of the around 500 participants of the seminar, who came from various countries, aired their concerns on whether Indonesia will still have its vast and important rain forests in 2020, as the enforcement of laws to protect the forests is very poor.(09)