Ultimatum for disobedient concessionaires
JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires will ask the government to cancel the permits of timber companies which poorly manage their forests.
But the association's deputy chairman, Hendro Prastowo, said here yesterday the government should allow them to improve their operation before their permits were revoked.
"They have to make an improvement or they lose their concessionary rights," he told reporters.
He said improving forest management was essential to meet the ecolabeling standards set by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).
By next century, the ecolabel will become a prerequisite for tropical timber producers to gain access to markets in certain consumer countries. Indonesia has been classified by the ITTO as one of the countries most prepared to meet ecolabeling requirements.
The government began extending forest concessions to timber companies in the early 1970s. Until now, hundreds of concession permits have been revoked due to poor forest management.
Most of the existing timber companies have been voluntarily assessed, using the 170-item criteria and indicators of sustainable forest management set by ITTO.
Based on official data, 100 forest concessionaires were assessed from 1994 to 1996 and none of them were prepared for ecolabeling.
In 1994, 11 concessionaires were assessed, six of which were categorized as "adequately prepared", four as "fairly prepared" and one as "poorly prepared".
In 1995, 50 concessionaires were assessed, with nine classified as "adequately prepared", 22 "fairly prepared" and 19 "poorly prepared".
Out of 76 assessed concessionaires in 1996, 13 were "adequately prepared", 36 "fairly prepared", 25 "poorly prepared" and two "totally unprepared".
Prastowo said that by the end of this year, about 50 concessionaires would be assessed.
He said that permits of timber companies, which were not prepared to follow the ecolabeling standards, should be revoked.
There are 437 forest concessionaires operating in the country, covering 55 million hectares. The concessionaires are controlled by 50 leading groups, with sites located on 65-hectares of productive forest.
Among the leading groups are PT Alas Kesuma of businessmen Handjaja and Nana Suparna, PT Barito Pacific Timber of Joso A. Gautama and Johanes Hardian, PT Benua Indah of Budiono, PT Bumi Indah Raya of Sunaryo P., PT Bumi Raya Utama of Pintarso, PT Djajanti Djaja Timber of Sujoto Varinata and Sudradjat D.P. and PT Dwima Jaya Utama of Haryono. (icn)