Reforestation fund too small

Reforestation fund too small

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The head of the West Nusa Tenggara Forestry Office, Soeherdie, has said that the 2001 reforestation fund for the province is too small.

"We requested a total of Rp 4.9 billion, but only Rp 500 million was approved. We can do nothing with such a small amount of money and it was also disbursed very late," said Soeherdie. "In the past we have received reforestation funds in July but this year the money was provided in October. We cannot use the money."

"The rainy season will soon come and the reforestation program will have to start next year."

He said that the money should be distributed to regencies, which would carry out their reforestation programs. "But many regencies have refused to take the money. They said it was too little."

He said hundreds of thousands of trees of different varieties would be needed for the reforestation program. --Antara