Walhi criticizes new forestry plan

JAKARTA: Environmental activists criticized Minister of Forestry M.S. Kaban for planning to revitalize the forestry sector to maximize government revenue.

Longgena Ginting, director of the Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi), said that the government must no longer treat forests as a key source of state income amid massive deforestation -- both legal and illegal.

Longgena said that the statement from the forestry minister clearly showed that he did not really understand the seriousness of the situation.

Kaban stated that the forestry sector used to contribute approximately US$9 million in revenue to the state budget each year. --Antara