Walhi criticizes new forestry plan

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