Sweden aids forestry project

JAKARTA (JP): The Swedish government has agreed to provide a 4.22 million Swedish krona (US$515,000) grant for a forest and land rehabilitation project in Sumatra.

The agreement for the grant, which will be used to finance the Integrated Watersheds Rehabilitation and Environmental Development in Batanghari river basin in Jambi, was signed by Swedish Ambassador Harald Sandberg and Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution here on Tuesday.

The project, which will be carried out in the Batanghari river basin in Sarolangun Bangko regency in Jambi, is expected to contribute to the betterment of the planning process for watershed and environmental development in Indonesia and improve the living standard of the people living in the watershed area.

Sandberg said that the grant was the first stage of a three- installment grant by the Swedish government for watershed management and environmental development in Indonesia.

Indonesia, through the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations, will provide Rp 600 million ($54,500) for the four-year project. (gis)