Natural forests inadequate

Natural forests inadequate

JAKARTA (JP): A scientist warned yesterday that timber logged
from Indonesia's natural forests would not be adequate to meet
the domestic demand for both the medium and long term period.

M. Ari Soedarsono from the Ministry of Forestry told a seminar
on biodiversity yesterday that theoretically, only 0.45 cubic
meter of timber could be harvested from one hectare of forest
each year.

His calculations are based on a harvestable "production
forest" area -- or forests allocated entirely for economic
purposes -- of 50 million hectares country-wide and a sustainable
yield of 22.5 million cubic meters a year.

He emphasized that Indonesia could no longer rely on natural
forests as a source of timber. (pwn)