Friday 23 April 2010

Environmental Group Confronts Authority for Forest Destruction

Environmental Group Confronts Authority for Forest Destruction

Friday, 23 April, 2010

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: A regional environmental group in Sumatra's province of Jambi regretted violation in conservation forest in the province by mining companies and questioned the regional authorities handling towards the condition.

In a meeting with Jambi Forestry Office yesterday, the Alliance of Community for Forest demanded explanation about mining operations in over 632 thousand hectares of conservation zones including in Kerinci Seblat National Park.

The group said the fact proves regional government's lack of commitment in the preserving the forest and even indicates that offficials have conspired and contribute to the forest destruction.

Of 5.19 million hectares of conservation areas in the province about 4.34 million hectares have been controlled for business purposes, the group reported. It found 1,3 million hectares of industrial estates, 507 thousand hectares of licensed forest for logging, 61.3 thousand hectares of forest concession, 1.2 million hectares of palm oil plantations, 633.7 thousand hectares of rubber plantations, and 632.3 thousand hectares of mining.

Head of the provincial Forestry Office Budi Daya acknowledged the facts especially on mining activities but claimed that mining operations have been running without consent from the local authority.

SYAIPUL BAKHORI
http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nusa/sumatera/2010/04/23/brk,20100423-242775,uk.html