Mining in protected forests under fire
Mining in protected forests under fire
Evi Mariani and Rendi Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A green activist blasted the government's and the House of
Representatives' plan to allow 15 mining companies to resume
their operations in protected-forest areas, saying that several
NGOs were ready to file a lawsuit against the government and the
House over the plan.
"Should a presidential decree be issued, allowing the
operations to proceed, my organization, along with dozens of
other environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
ready to file a lawsuit," said Chalid Muhammad, national
coordinator of Network for Mining Advocacy (Jatam).
"Over the past three months, we have raised support (against
the plan) of about 1,000 people," he added.
He said that the planned decree would violate Law No. 41/1999
on forestry, which bans open-cast mining in protected forests.
"If the companies resume operations, the environmental and
social costs Indonesia will have to pay are much higher than the
gains from those companies, as environmental damage is
irreparable," said Chalid.
He listed the potential negative impacts of the planned
decree: Changes in the micro-climate, decreased biodiversity,
shrinking of water catchment areas and heightened possibilities
of natural disasters.
"There will also be potential horizontal conflicts between the
surrounding communities and the companies," he said.
Conflicts of interest between mining companies and those
fighting for sustainable development and the environment have
been the subjects of heated discussions at the House and several
ministries for the past few months.
Law No. 41/1999 has affected the operations of many mining
companies, as their mining sites were later designated as
protected forest areas. The mining companies, which had made huge
investments, protested the law and subsequent decisions as they
ran contrary to the contracts they had signed with the
government.
Havizi Kurnain, a member of House Commission III for forestry
and agriculture, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the plan
was waiting for approval from the House.
"Without our approval, the decree cannot be issued. We will
hold meetings to discuss the issue this week, or next week," he
added.
Earlier this week, a ministerial meeting at the office of the
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs reportedly approved
the plan to allow 15 mining companies to resume operating in
protected-forest areas.
Mining companies to resume operations in protected forests
Company concessions in protected forests (ha)
1. Freeport Indonesia 203,740
2. Nabire Bakti Mining 201,550
3. Meratus Sumber Mas 37,590
4. Newmont Nusa Tenggara 65,200
5. Karimun Granite 4,090
6. International Nickel Indonesia 219,330
7. Natarang Mining 49,740
8. Citra Palu Minerals 138,020
9. Nusa Halmahera Minerals 366,610
10. Weda Bay Nikel 90,020
11. Gag Nickel 6,060
12. Indominco Mandiri 6,880
13. Meares Soputan Mining not available
14. Arutmin Indonesia not available
15. Aneka Tambang not available
Source: Kompas and Forestry Planning Agency at the Ministry of
Forestry