Managing forests

Managing forests

The government's policy to turn private forest concession
companies into BUMN state-owned enterprises, putting 49 percent
of the shares in the hands of the government, is a positive
measure.

Indonesia, whose territory covers 191.93 million hectares, has
143.9 million hectares of forest, which is 75 percent of the
total land surface.

The preservation of our virgin forests is obviously a long-
term enterprise, since maintaining a sound living environment
involves safeguarding both the quantity and the quality of our
assets.

During the fourth and fifth development periods it was proven
that reforestation funds were used only to replant the visible
outer rims of forests. Much of the damage done in central areas
was left unrepaired.

The whole scheme must be re-examined to see if private forest
concessionaires have managed their areas in accordance with the
environmental impact analyses, so our forests and our development
efforts can be sustained.

-- Pikiran Rakyat, Bandung