Universities get forest concessions

Universities get forest concessions

SEMARANG, Central Java: Three universities have been granted
forest concessions to cultivate 500,000 hectares of forests
outside Java.

Minister of Forestry Muslimin Nasution hoped the three
universities -- Diponegoro University, the Semarang Teachers
Training Institute and the Jawadwipa Polytechnics -- could make
good use of the rights.

"We hope the areas will be positively used as natural
laboratories for students to exercise their knowledge," Muslimin
said.

The forest concessions apparently belonged to companies who
had their licenses revoked.

Muslimin said there were at least seven other universities in
the country which have received such concessions. (har/emf)