SKEPHI needs information

SKEPHI needs information

SKEPHI Support Office Europe is an official subsidiary of
Network for Forest Conservation in Indonesia (SKEPHI) in Europe.
Besides being assigned to international campaigning to preserve
forests in Indonesia, the office also conducts and prepares
studies and strategic papers, the results of which are to be made
available to relevant and interested non-governmental as well as
governmental institutions.

Recently our office started a study on the use of palm and
palm kernel oil as a fuel substitute in Southeast Asian
countries, such as Indonesia. Early this year, our study group
visited North Sumatra and parts of Malaysia to learn about the
palm oil plantation and palm oil production system.

As the areas converted into palm oil plantations are growing
fast in Indonesia, there is a heavy impact on the environment. It
seems the total planted area has now reached about 2.2 million
hectares and in the near future will increase to about four
million hectares (our findings). People, including NGO's and
government officials dealing with developmental issues in
Indonesia have expressed interest in a complete picture of palm
oil plantation, its industry as well its impact on the
environment.

To complete our study we need more information, especially
from local people affected by, and local administration engaged
in, the palm oil plantation scheme and industry:

How far do investors abide by environmental laws concerning
the palm oil industry? The laws deal with:

* palm oil effluent.

* burning of empty fruit bunches.

* conservation of protected forests and wild life.

* water erosion: are there cases with impacts on the
environment?

* use of fertilizers and pesticides: are there cases with an
impact on workers and local population?

What is the percentage of newly planted areas originating from
freshly cleared forests?

Which local community organizations, non as well as
governmental institutions, are willing to help us with relevant
information? Do these institutions deal with these problems and
who is interested in learning our final findings?

Your information could be compiled and written in Bahasa
Indonesia and sent to: SKEPHI Support Office Europe, Atten. H. Junaid,
Research and Policy Study Division, Nannostraat 19-III, 1061 EK
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

HASJRUL JUNAID

Coordinator, SSO-Europe

Amsterdam