RI gets Swedish grant

JAKARTA (JP): Sweden will provide Indonesia a US$140,000 grant to help improve environmental management in the country's forestry sector.

The grant, to be provided through the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA) to help fund a government project to improve environmental forestry management, was signed by Ministry of Forestry Director General of Forest Utilization Titus Sarijanto.

Titus said the project is aimed to create an awareness of the commercial, socio-economic and environmental benefits from improved environmental management.

"This hopefully will, in turn, prevent environmental destruction and reduce pressure on forest resources due to Indonesia's vast forest industry development," he said.

Under the agreement, the Swedish funds will finance project seminars and study tours on the environment for officials from the ministries of forestry, and industry and trade, officials from the state ministry of the environment and executives from timber companies and non-governmental organizations.

Indonesia's directorate of forest utilization will provide $60,000 for the four-month project. (gis)