WB to hold forestry seminar

WB to hold forestry seminar

JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank's office in Jakarta will hold a
high-level seminar on forestry next Wednesday to find solutions
to the ongoing problems confronting Indonesia's forestry sector.

World Bank environmental specialist Thomas Walton said in a
statement on Friday the seminar would be attended by members of
the government, donors, agencies and non-governmental
organizations and other stakeholders in forestry.

"This seminar is the first time all major stakeholders in
forestry will convene to discuss how we can work together to
overcome the ongoing problems confronting Indonesia's forests, a
valuable natural resource that is disappearing at alarming
rates," Walton said.

He said the great concern over Indonesia's shrinking forests
at the last meeting of the Consultative Group of Indonesia in
July 1999 prompted the follow-up seminar.

Nearly 17 million hectares of Indonesian forests have
disappeared in the last 12 years, with an annual deforestation
rate estimated to be 1.5 million hectares, Walton said.

"At this meeting, we would like to establish the foundation
for a new forest vision for Indonesia and do so in a way that
involves all of the stakeholders concerned and earn their
commitment and support," Walton said.

The seminar will be held at the Shangri-La hotel. (jsk)