Solor to produce sandalwood

MAUMERE, East Jusa Tenggara: Solor island in the East Flores regency is set to become the biggest producer of yellow sandalwood, Regent Felixs Fernandez has said.

"The regreening program began years ago with the planting of yellow sandalwood, locally known as cendana. In the next 30 years the island will become the biggest cendana producer in East Nusa Tenggara province," Fernandez said on Monday.

The regreening program was also supported by local non- governmental organizations (NGOs), which suggested that cendana trees be planted on the 200,000 hectares of critical land on the island during the wet season.

"We have submitted the NGO's proposal to the United Nations Development Program representative office in Jakarta," Fernandez said.

The island of Solor is almost 226 square kilometers and has two districts and 29 villages; 16 villages in West Solor and the other 13 in the east. The island has a population of 25,526 and is close to Komodo island.

The island is rich with various species of flora and fauna. Whales are often spotted in the water around the island. (yac/sur)