Timber firms operate again

Timber firms operate again

JAKARTA (JP): At least 21 timber companies, which last month
were suspended for their alleged involvement in forest fires, are
being allowed to resume operations again.

The director for forest development at the Ministry of
Forestry Soegeng Widodo said here yesterday that the 21
companies, which hold 45 wood-use permits, had proven that they
were innocent.

Soegeng said that the companies had fulfilled the ministry's
requirements to provide sufficient proof that they carried out
land clearing without using a burning system.

He said 36 of the 45 permits were issued for timber estates
and the remaining nine were for plantations.

"The suspension of several companies operating in
transmigration sites could not be lifted because they could not
prove that they were innocent," he said. (gis)