Friday, 16 May 2008
Wildlife populations 'plummeting'
BBC News web site Friday, 16 May 2008 UK
Wildlife populations 'plummeting'
Over-fishing and demand for their fins as a delicacy have hit shark numbers
Between a quarter and a third of the world's wildlife has been lost since 1970, according to data compiled by the Zoological Society of London.
Populations of land-based species fell by 25%, marine by 28% and freshwater by 29%, it says.
Humans are wiping out about 1% of all other species every year, and one of the "great extinction episodes" in the Earth's history is under way, it says.
Pollution, farming and urban expansion, over-fishing and hunting are blamed.
The Living Planet Index, compiled by the society in partnership with the wildlife group WWF, tracks the fortunes of more than 1,400 species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, using scientific publications and online databases.
It said numbers had declined by 27% in the 35 years from 1970 to 2005.
Some of the worst hit are marine species which saw their numbers plummet by 28% in just 10 years, between 1995 and 2005.
Populations of ocean birds have fallen by 30% since the mid 1990s, while land-based populations have dropped by 25%.
Among the creatures most seriously affected have been African antelopes, swordfish and hammerhead sharks.
Another, the baiji - or Yangtze River Dolphin - may have been lost altogether.
The findings were released ahead of a meeting of the Convention on Biodiversity in the German city of Bonn.
The convention was signed in 1992 with the aim of stabilising the loss of species. In 2002, member states pledged to achieve a "significant reduction" in the current rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
But the Zoological Society said governments had since failed to put in place policies necessary to achieve that goal.
It said that while species' decline does appear to have flattened off in recent years, it is "very unlikely" that the 2010 target will be reached.
The WWF said that over the next 30 years, climate change was also expected to become a significant threat to species.
Land-based species, such as African antelopes, have fallen by 25%
Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF UK, said: "Biodiversity underpins the health of the planet and has a direct impact on all our lives, so it is alarming that despite an increased awareness of environmental issues we continue to see a downward trend."
The charity also warned that a failure to stop biodiversity loss would have a direct impact on humans.
Director general James Leape said: "Reduced biodiversity means millions of people face a future where food supplies are more vulnerable to pests and disease and where water is in irregular or short supply.
"No-one can escape the impact of biodiversity loss because reduced global diversity translates quite clearly into fewer new medicines, greater vulnerability to natural disasters and greater effects from global warming."
The WWF is calling on governments meeting in Bonn to honour their commitments to put in place effective protected areas for wildlife and to adopt a target to achieve net annual zero deforestation by 2020.
Riau to invite foreign investment in plantation, fishery sectors
Riau to invite foreign investment in plantation, fishery sectors
05/15/08 Jakarta (ANTARA News) -
The Riau provincial administration will invite foreign businessmen to run some projects in the province, mainly in the plantation and fishery sectors, during the Indonesian Regional Investment Forum (IRIF) to be held here on May 26 and 27.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the event to be organized jointly by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and Global Initiatives."We will invite business players from Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, Australia, Europe and the United States to invest in Riau," Riau Governor Rusli Zainal told the press here on Thursday.
Rusli expressed optimism that he could invite foreign business players to invest in the province as the province`s economic growth was relatively high, reaching 8.29 percent per year.He added the provincial administration has established a team to accelerate the investment while constructing the physical infrastructure.
He said Riau would try hard to increase its crude palm oil (CPO) production although it now has produced 15-16 million tones per year, or half of the total Indonesia`s CPO product.
And to attract business players to invest in the province, the provincial administration has established an integrated service office to facilitate the permit`s granting to the business players, he said.
"We will also provide informative profile on the projects offered to them," he added.Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be among the keynote speakers at the forum.
Among other figures to speak at the forum would be former Malaysian deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam on behalf of the president director of Sime Darby and the chief executive officer(CEO) of Khazanah Nasional, Dato Azman Mokhtar.(*)
05/15/08 Jakarta (ANTARA News) -
The Riau provincial administration will invite foreign businessmen to run some projects in the province, mainly in the plantation and fishery sectors, during the Indonesian Regional Investment Forum (IRIF) to be held here on May 26 and 27.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the event to be organized jointly by the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and Global Initiatives."We will invite business players from Singapore, Malaysia, the Middle East, Australia, Europe and the United States to invest in Riau," Riau Governor Rusli Zainal told the press here on Thursday.
Rusli expressed optimism that he could invite foreign business players to invest in the province as the province`s economic growth was relatively high, reaching 8.29 percent per year.He added the provincial administration has established a team to accelerate the investment while constructing the physical infrastructure.
He said Riau would try hard to increase its crude palm oil (CPO) production although it now has produced 15-16 million tones per year, or half of the total Indonesia`s CPO product.
And to attract business players to invest in the province, the provincial administration has established an integrated service office to facilitate the permit`s granting to the business players, he said.
"We will also provide informative profile on the projects offered to them," he added.Former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra will be among the keynote speakers at the forum.
Among other figures to speak at the forum would be former Malaysian deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam on behalf of the president director of Sime Darby and the chief executive officer(CEO) of Khazanah Nasional, Dato Azman Mokhtar.(*)
Govt eyes wood products certification body
Govt eyes wood products certification body
Hyginus Hardoyo , The Jakarta Post , Yogyakarta Thu, 05/15/2008
With help from the Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute (IEI) and the European Union, the government is developing an executive body under the Forestry Ministry to be responsible for the certification of sustainable wood products and production system.
"The executive body will be at the same level as a directorate general within a ministry," IEI executive director Taufik Alwi said on the sidelines of a seminar on wood legality in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.
The IEI is a quasi-government body now temporarily in charge of issuing sustainable forest certification in the country with many of its members scholars or players in the forestry industry.
The IEI, he said, would formulate the wood certification standard for the proposed body, while the European Union would provide expert advisory and funding, although he refused to specify amounts.
Alwi said in order to ensure product certification compatibility and access to most international markets, the body would adapt a verification system used in 10 major green wood importing countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
He also said the executive body would have the authority to issue certification for independent wood certification agencies.
He said while no deadlines had yet been set, the IEI sought to complete a draft of the certification standard soon.
The creation of an international standards-compliant body, he said, would result in an exponential increase in Indonesian wood products, which currently only account for 5 percent of the world market, entering major markets, particularly in Europe.
"Even though Indonesia has declared some of its wood products legal and made from sustainable harvested materials, buyers are not yet comfortable with the existing system's ability to verify product legality," he said.
The new system, he said, would be credible and efficient in that it would not require additional funding.
The existing system is subject to a large number of costly inspections by agencies both from central and regional administrations.
"Imagine, a business entity can be inspected up to 50 times per year on various subjects ranging from wood yields to boundary matters," Taufik said.
He said the IEI's existing program had already certified 1.1 million hectares of production forest, and aimed to expand to 2 million hectares by the end of the year.
Hyginus Hardoyo , The Jakarta Post , Yogyakarta Thu, 05/15/2008
With help from the Indonesian Ecolabelling Institute (IEI) and the European Union, the government is developing an executive body under the Forestry Ministry to be responsible for the certification of sustainable wood products and production system.
"The executive body will be at the same level as a directorate general within a ministry," IEI executive director Taufik Alwi said on the sidelines of a seminar on wood legality in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.
The IEI is a quasi-government body now temporarily in charge of issuing sustainable forest certification in the country with many of its members scholars or players in the forestry industry.
The IEI, he said, would formulate the wood certification standard for the proposed body, while the European Union would provide expert advisory and funding, although he refused to specify amounts.
Alwi said in order to ensure product certification compatibility and access to most international markets, the body would adapt a verification system used in 10 major green wood importing countries, including the Netherlands, Germany, France, Britain, Japan, New Zealand and Australia.
He also said the executive body would have the authority to issue certification for independent wood certification agencies.
He said while no deadlines had yet been set, the IEI sought to complete a draft of the certification standard soon.
The creation of an international standards-compliant body, he said, would result in an exponential increase in Indonesian wood products, which currently only account for 5 percent of the world market, entering major markets, particularly in Europe.
"Even though Indonesia has declared some of its wood products legal and made from sustainable harvested materials, buyers are not yet comfortable with the existing system's ability to verify product legality," he said.
The new system, he said, would be credible and efficient in that it would not require additional funding.
The existing system is subject to a large number of costly inspections by agencies both from central and regional administrations.
"Imagine, a business entity can be inspected up to 50 times per year on various subjects ranging from wood yields to boundary matters," Taufik said.
He said the IEI's existing program had already certified 1.1 million hectares of production forest, and aimed to expand to 2 million hectares by the end of the year.
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Bakrie to expand oil palm plantation area
Thursday, May 15, 2008 4:07 AM
Bakrie to expand oil palm plantation area
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Wed, 05/14/2008
Publicly listed PT Bakrie Sumatera Plantations plans to add 50,000 hectares to its oil palm plantation by 2010 with an investment of US$260 million.
"Thirty-million dollars will be financed by equity from Bakrie Sumatera's new subsidiary PT Bakrie Sentosa Persada (BSP), $80 million from an international consortium equities and the remainder with bank loans," president director Ambono Janurianto said Wednesday.
Bakrie Sumatera established the palm oil producer BSP in June 2007.
Ambono said the expansion area, located in Central Kalimantan and Riau, Sumatra, was expected to contribute a profit of $100 per hectare, totaling $5 million per annum.
Bakrie Sumatera now operates 87,415 hectares of plantation, with 67,745 hectares for oil palm and the rest for rubber. Ambono said the holding company aimed to expand its plantation area to 200,000 hectares by 2011.
Bakrie Sumatera, the country's fifth-largest plantation owner by value, booked a 794 percent increase in its first quarter net profit to Rp 18.5 billion (US$1.99 million) over the same period last year.
"The year 2007 was really a great year for palm oil and natural rubber as prices surged to levels never reached before," said president commissioner Soedjai Kartasasmita.
In 2007, the world crude palm oil price reached $600 to $800 per ton up by 100 percent from 2006.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/05/14/bakrie-expand-oil-palm-plantation-area.html
Bakrie to expand oil palm plantation area
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Wed, 05/14/2008
Publicly listed PT Bakrie Sumatera Plantations plans to add 50,000 hectares to its oil palm plantation by 2010 with an investment of US$260 million.
"Thirty-million dollars will be financed by equity from Bakrie Sumatera's new subsidiary PT Bakrie Sentosa Persada (BSP), $80 million from an international consortium equities and the remainder with bank loans," president director Ambono Janurianto said Wednesday.
Bakrie Sumatera established the palm oil producer BSP in June 2007.
Ambono said the expansion area, located in Central Kalimantan and Riau, Sumatra, was expected to contribute a profit of $100 per hectare, totaling $5 million per annum.
Bakrie Sumatera now operates 87,415 hectares of plantation, with 67,745 hectares for oil palm and the rest for rubber. Ambono said the holding company aimed to expand its plantation area to 200,000 hectares by 2011.
Bakrie Sumatera, the country's fifth-largest plantation owner by value, booked a 794 percent increase in its first quarter net profit to Rp 18.5 billion (US$1.99 million) over the same period last year.
"The year 2007 was really a great year for palm oil and natural rubber as prices surged to levels never reached before," said president commissioner Soedjai Kartasasmita.
In 2007, the world crude palm oil price reached $600 to $800 per ton up by 100 percent from 2006.
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/05/14/bakrie-expand-oil-palm-plantation-area.html
Charles urges forest logging halt
Prince Charles has been a long-time critic of deforestation. How many other VIP people in a position of power and influence have we heard speak out so passionately against logging. Hmmnn, hmmnn, ah, ...........................I'm still thinking.
Thursday, 15 May 2008 06:25 UK BBC Web Site
Charles urges forest logging halt
Prince Charles said there needed to be rewards for preserving the rainforest
Prince Charles has said the halting of logging in the rainforest is the single greatest solution to climate change.
The prince called on governments, big business and consumers to demand an end to the practice.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the rainforest provided the "air conditioning system" for the planet.
The Prince of Wales said it was "crazy" that the rainforest was worth more "dead than alive" to some of the poorest people in the world. He said of the rainforest: "When you think they release 20 billion tonnes of water vapour into the air every day, and also absorb carbon on a gigantic scale, they are incredibly valuable, and they provide the rainfall we all depend on."
Charles said a way had to be found to ensure people living in the rainforest were adequately rewarded for the "eco-system services that their forest provides the rest of the world.
We're asking for something pretty dreadful unless we really understand the issues now"
said Prince Charles.
"The trouble is the rainforests are home to something like 1.4 billion of the poorest people in the world. "In order to survive there has to be an effort to produce things which tends to be at the expense of the rainforest.
"What we've got to do is try to ensure that those forests are more valuable alive than dead.
"At the moment there's more value in them being dead. This is the crazy thing." Grand scale Charles said the time was right to persuade business to play its part because there was increasing concern about global warming.
"Halting deforestation would be the easiest and cheapest way in helping in the battle against climate change," he said. "Waiting for all the new technologies to come on stream is not going to be soon enough." Charles said if deforestation did not slow down soon there would be "far more drought and starvation on a grand scale".
He said: "We're asking for something pretty dreadful unless we really understand the issues now, and urgency of those issues.
"It is the easiest way to create a win on the climate change front while all sorts of other things come along later."
Thursday, 15 May 2008 06:25 UK BBC Web Site
Charles urges forest logging halt
Prince Charles said there needed to be rewards for preserving the rainforest
Prince Charles has said the halting of logging in the rainforest is the single greatest solution to climate change.
The prince called on governments, big business and consumers to demand an end to the practice.
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the rainforest provided the "air conditioning system" for the planet.
The Prince of Wales said it was "crazy" that the rainforest was worth more "dead than alive" to some of the poorest people in the world. He said of the rainforest: "When you think they release 20 billion tonnes of water vapour into the air every day, and also absorb carbon on a gigantic scale, they are incredibly valuable, and they provide the rainfall we all depend on."
Charles said a way had to be found to ensure people living in the rainforest were adequately rewarded for the "eco-system services that their forest provides the rest of the world.
We're asking for something pretty dreadful unless we really understand the issues now"
said Prince Charles.
"The trouble is the rainforests are home to something like 1.4 billion of the poorest people in the world. "In order to survive there has to be an effort to produce things which tends to be at the expense of the rainforest.
"What we've got to do is try to ensure that those forests are more valuable alive than dead.
"At the moment there's more value in them being dead. This is the crazy thing." Grand scale Charles said the time was right to persuade business to play its part because there was increasing concern about global warming.
"Halting deforestation would be the easiest and cheapest way in helping in the battle against climate change," he said. "Waiting for all the new technologies to come on stream is not going to be soon enough." Charles said if deforestation did not slow down soon there would be "far more drought and starvation on a grand scale".
He said: "We're asking for something pretty dreadful unless we really understand the issues now, and urgency of those issues.
"It is the easiest way to create a win on the climate change front while all sorts of other things come along later."
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Sainsbury's first with sustainable palm oil
14th May 2008
Sainsbury's first with sustainable palm oil
Sainsbury's claims it will be the first supermarket to launch a food product containing certified sustainable palm oil.
The supermarket’s basics fish fingers are made with certified oil and go on sale this month.
According to Sainsbury’s, this will equate to around eight million fish fingers this year that are also Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) approved.
Sainsbury’s announced palm oil used in its own brand food would come from certified sustainable sources in November 2007, as increased demand is having a significant environmental impact.
By July 2008, Sainsbury’s soap will also contain certified sustainable palm oil.
Sainsbury’s will also be the first supermarket to label the use of palm oil in its food with the first range labelled by July 2008. By Fiona Briggs
Sainsbury's first with sustainable palm oil
Sainsbury's claims it will be the first supermarket to launch a food product containing certified sustainable palm oil.
The supermarket’s basics fish fingers are made with certified oil and go on sale this month.
According to Sainsbury’s, this will equate to around eight million fish fingers this year that are also Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) approved.
Sainsbury’s announced palm oil used in its own brand food would come from certified sustainable sources in November 2007, as increased demand is having a significant environmental impact.
By July 2008, Sainsbury’s soap will also contain certified sustainable palm oil.
Sainsbury’s will also be the first supermarket to label the use of palm oil in its food with the first range labelled by July 2008. By Fiona Briggs
Unilever takes the lead to stop deforestation in Indonesia
Greenpeace 14th May 2008
Unilever takes the lead to stop deforestation in Indonesia
You may have noticed that we had a quick win in our campaign to stop deforestation from palm oil a couple weeks back. Unilever made an announcement that they would support a moratorium to protect Indonesia’s rainforest from destruction just ten days after the launch of our campaign.
During our research we discovered that Unilever is the biggest buyer of palm oil, and it is used in several of their products like Dove soap, Persil and Flora. So we started targeting Dove with a cheeky campaign subverting their campaign for real beauty with Orang-utans on billboards, on flyers, online banners and on the Unilever’s headquarters in London and their factory in Liverpool.
Meanwhile, our active supporters went out on the streets and took well over a thousand photos of people sending their messages to Dove - you can see all the photos here. And many more of you joined in, submitting your own photos to our Flickr group and writing to Dove.
The agreement with Unilever is now starting to take shape, but this is just the first step in our campaign to get a moratorium on forest destruction in South East Asia in place within what we hope will be months.
Last Friday our big wigs met with Unilever’s big wigs and we put some flesh on the bones of this commitment. Unilever is supporting our call for a moratorium on the ground but even through they are the biggest buyer they represent only 3 per cent of the palm oil purchasers and the moratorium will need a lot more support from other companies before we see real change on the ground in Indonesia.
Unilever have agreed to take up the challenge by leading the way and building a coalition of allies to support a moratorium and put pressure on their suppliers in Indonesia to agree to a moratorium on further destruction of rainforests for palm oil. This includes them lobbying all the major players in the industry like Kraft, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble and Cadburys. They also agreed to put substantial pressure on their suppliers in Indonesia to stop destroying rainforests.
This is a really big first step and we’re pretty chuffed, and while it won’t be as glamorous as the campaign for real rainforests, we now have a lot of work ahead to make sure that Unilever holds up their end of the agreement and together we get more companies on side and get a moratorium in place.
Over the coming months we will be meeting with companies and lobbying them to support the moratorium alongside Unilever. This coalition of influential players in the palm oil industry is key to getting a moratorium in place as soon as possible to stop deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases that fuel climate change.
And there is no time celebrate (ok, well we did just a little) - next week campaigners will be speaking at the World Palm Oil Summit in Jakarta to talk about the need for a moratorium with buyers and suppliers. And we will also be speaking at an investment seminar on palm oil in London in June with F&C Asset Management and McDonalds.
We will do our best to keep you posted, but because of the nature of many of these meetings we will have to keep a pretty closed lip. We will also let you know if we need your help again in the future to put pressure on any companies that may need a bit of an incentive to support the moratorium. In the meantime you can join Greenpeace to help our ongoing work.
Thank you for all your help and support so far, it has been an incredible response for the first step in this campaign to save Indonesia’s rainforests.
Unilever takes the lead to stop deforestation in Indonesia
You may have noticed that we had a quick win in our campaign to stop deforestation from palm oil a couple weeks back. Unilever made an announcement that they would support a moratorium to protect Indonesia’s rainforest from destruction just ten days after the launch of our campaign.
During our research we discovered that Unilever is the biggest buyer of palm oil, and it is used in several of their products like Dove soap, Persil and Flora. So we started targeting Dove with a cheeky campaign subverting their campaign for real beauty with Orang-utans on billboards, on flyers, online banners and on the Unilever’s headquarters in London and their factory in Liverpool.
Meanwhile, our active supporters went out on the streets and took well over a thousand photos of people sending their messages to Dove - you can see all the photos here. And many more of you joined in, submitting your own photos to our Flickr group and writing to Dove.
The agreement with Unilever is now starting to take shape, but this is just the first step in our campaign to get a moratorium on forest destruction in South East Asia in place within what we hope will be months.
Last Friday our big wigs met with Unilever’s big wigs and we put some flesh on the bones of this commitment. Unilever is supporting our call for a moratorium on the ground but even through they are the biggest buyer they represent only 3 per cent of the palm oil purchasers and the moratorium will need a lot more support from other companies before we see real change on the ground in Indonesia.
Unilever have agreed to take up the challenge by leading the way and building a coalition of allies to support a moratorium and put pressure on their suppliers in Indonesia to agree to a moratorium on further destruction of rainforests for palm oil. This includes them lobbying all the major players in the industry like Kraft, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble and Cadburys. They also agreed to put substantial pressure on their suppliers in Indonesia to stop destroying rainforests.
This is a really big first step and we’re pretty chuffed, and while it won’t be as glamorous as the campaign for real rainforests, we now have a lot of work ahead to make sure that Unilever holds up their end of the agreement and together we get more companies on side and get a moratorium in place.
Over the coming months we will be meeting with companies and lobbying them to support the moratorium alongside Unilever. This coalition of influential players in the palm oil industry is key to getting a moratorium in place as soon as possible to stop deforestation and the release of greenhouse gases that fuel climate change.
And there is no time celebrate (ok, well we did just a little) - next week campaigners will be speaking at the World Palm Oil Summit in Jakarta to talk about the need for a moratorium with buyers and suppliers. And we will also be speaking at an investment seminar on palm oil in London in June with F&C Asset Management and McDonalds.
We will do our best to keep you posted, but because of the nature of many of these meetings we will have to keep a pretty closed lip. We will also let you know if we need your help again in the future to put pressure on any companies that may need a bit of an incentive to support the moratorium. In the meantime you can join Greenpeace to help our ongoing work.
Thank you for all your help and support so far, it has been an incredible response for the first step in this campaign to save Indonesia’s rainforests.
United Plantations Q1 earnings up 194%
The StarOnline, Malaysia
Wednesday May 14, 2008
United Plantations Q1 earnings up 194%
KUALA LUMPUR: United Plantations Bhd’s net profit surged 194% to RM68.96mil for the first quarter ended March 31 from RM23.44mil in the previous corresponding quarter, boosted by higher output and selling prices of crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel.
It said in a statement on Wednesday that revenue surged 80% to RM226.45mil from RM126.11mil while earnings per share was 33.13 sen compared with 11.26 sen previously.
United Plantations said CPO and palm kernel output increased 25% and 22.3% while selling prices for CPO and palm kernel rose 47.4% and 71.8%, boosting its earnings significantly.
Its refinery’s profit contribution also increased significantly due to the 6% increase in sales volume and better margins from all products.
However, it was concerned about prospects for world oilseed production in 2008/2009 which were currently “somewhat bearish” due to the expected increase in the planted area.
“The high food prices which are causing a crisis in many developing and Third World countries may prompt governments to revise their biofuel policies. This could become a bearish factor for vegetable oil prices in general,” it said.
United Plantations also said under its forward sales policy, substantial quantities of CPO were sold forward entering 2008.
Wednesday May 14, 2008
United Plantations Q1 earnings up 194%
KUALA LUMPUR: United Plantations Bhd’s net profit surged 194% to RM68.96mil for the first quarter ended March 31 from RM23.44mil in the previous corresponding quarter, boosted by higher output and selling prices of crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel.
It said in a statement on Wednesday that revenue surged 80% to RM226.45mil from RM126.11mil while earnings per share was 33.13 sen compared with 11.26 sen previously.
United Plantations said CPO and palm kernel output increased 25% and 22.3% while selling prices for CPO and palm kernel rose 47.4% and 71.8%, boosting its earnings significantly.
Its refinery’s profit contribution also increased significantly due to the 6% increase in sales volume and better margins from all products.
However, it was concerned about prospects for world oilseed production in 2008/2009 which were currently “somewhat bearish” due to the expected increase in the planted area.
“The high food prices which are causing a crisis in many developing and Third World countries may prompt governments to revise their biofuel policies. This could become a bearish factor for vegetable oil prices in general,” it said.
United Plantations also said under its forward sales policy, substantial quantities of CPO were sold forward entering 2008.
New Britain doubles profit from palm oil
New Britain doubles profit from palm oil
Wed May 14, 2008 8:29am EDT
by Hsu Chuang Khoo
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - New Britain Palm Oil (NBPO.L: ) doubled quarterly profits and underlined plans to double acreage over the next seven years in anticipation of strong palm oil prices, the Australasia-focused planter said on Wednesday.
First-quarter pretax profits for the period to May 13 doubled to $37 million as sales rose 63 percent to $83 million, Papua New Guinea's largest palm oil producer said.
New Britain has doubled in value since its December listing giving it a current market value of 790 million pounds ($1.54 billion). Its performance compares with a 3.7 percent decline in the FTSE All Share index in 2008.
With no debt, about $50 million in cash and a share price that's a shade off its March peak of 600p, the company is on track to double acreage by 2015, Executive Director Alan Chaytor told Reuters.
New Britain has about 40,000 hectares of plantation estates on Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands -- a size it can easily double in surrounding areas, Chaytor said.
Additional estates could come from acquisitions in Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's two top producers of the edible oil, he said, adding that palm oil prices are expected to stay strong in the medium to long-term.
"The supply, demand factors still remain," Chaytor said. "The world is still hungry and food demand is still very strong from the emerging economies. We see quite a few years of impressive pricing.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
New Britain will consider "opportunistic" mergers and acquisitions to grow, the firm has said.
But even doubling its size still makes it a minnow among global players like Singapore's Wilmar International which has 570,000 hectares and Malaysia's Sime Darby with 525,000 hectares.
New Britain said it averaged $954 per tonne for crude palm oil in the first quarter and at the end of April had about 99,000 tonnes of oil sold or priced forward for 2008 at an average price of $1,020 per tonne.
"New Britain's trading statement reads very positively and we can expect another terrific year," said Ambrian analyst Richard Lucas.
"Unlike the other palm oil producers quoted in the UK the company has no export taxes to pay, so on the majority of production not sold forward it will benefit from the entire palm oil price rise."
The price of palm oil, used as a cooking oil and in products ranging from cosmetics to cookies and biofuels, has almost doubled since the start of 2007 on surging demand from the food and fuel sectors.
Shares of New Britain trade at 18 times current-year earnings, more expensive than smaller London rivals Anglo Eastern and MP Evans but still cheaper than REA Holdings
New Britain is set to show the strongest profit growth of the four companies," Ambrian's Lucas added.
"The share price has continued to perform well, but with palm oil prices still so strong we think the shares, and indeed the sector, still offer reasonable value.New Britain, whose shares were up 1.5 percent to 550.5 pence by 1152 GMT, is 51-percent-owned by Kulim Bhd, a Malaysian government-controlled company. (Reporting by Hsu Chuang Khoo; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Wed May 14, 2008 8:29am EDT
by Hsu Chuang Khoo
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - New Britain Palm Oil (NBPO.L: ) doubled quarterly profits and underlined plans to double acreage over the next seven years in anticipation of strong palm oil prices, the Australasia-focused planter said on Wednesday.
First-quarter pretax profits for the period to May 13 doubled to $37 million as sales rose 63 percent to $83 million, Papua New Guinea's largest palm oil producer said.
New Britain has doubled in value since its December listing giving it a current market value of 790 million pounds ($1.54 billion). Its performance compares with a 3.7 percent decline in the FTSE All Share index in 2008.
With no debt, about $50 million in cash and a share price that's a shade off its March peak of 600p, the company is on track to double acreage by 2015, Executive Director Alan Chaytor told Reuters.
New Britain has about 40,000 hectares of plantation estates on Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands -- a size it can easily double in surrounding areas, Chaytor said.
Additional estates could come from acquisitions in Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's two top producers of the edible oil, he said, adding that palm oil prices are expected to stay strong in the medium to long-term.
"The supply, demand factors still remain," Chaytor said. "The world is still hungry and food demand is still very strong from the emerging economies. We see quite a few years of impressive pricing.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
New Britain will consider "opportunistic" mergers and acquisitions to grow, the firm has said.
But even doubling its size still makes it a minnow among global players like Singapore's Wilmar International which has 570,000 hectares and Malaysia's Sime Darby with 525,000 hectares.
New Britain said it averaged $954 per tonne for crude palm oil in the first quarter and at the end of April had about 99,000 tonnes of oil sold or priced forward for 2008 at an average price of $1,020 per tonne.
"New Britain's trading statement reads very positively and we can expect another terrific year," said Ambrian analyst Richard Lucas.
"Unlike the other palm oil producers quoted in the UK the company has no export taxes to pay, so on the majority of production not sold forward it will benefit from the entire palm oil price rise."
The price of palm oil, used as a cooking oil and in products ranging from cosmetics to cookies and biofuels, has almost doubled since the start of 2007 on surging demand from the food and fuel sectors.
Shares of New Britain trade at 18 times current-year earnings, more expensive than smaller London rivals Anglo Eastern and MP Evans but still cheaper than REA Holdings
New Britain is set to show the strongest profit growth of the four companies," Ambrian's Lucas added.
"The share price has continued to perform well, but with palm oil prices still so strong we think the shares, and indeed the sector, still offer reasonable value.New Britain, whose shares were up 1.5 percent to 550.5 pence by 1152 GMT, is 51-percent-owned by Kulim Bhd, a Malaysian government-controlled company. (Reporting by Hsu Chuang Khoo; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
Indonesian forests to be more than just carbon sinks
Indonesian forests should be more than just carbon sinks
Source: Copyright 2008, Jakarta Post Date: May 13, 2008
In the last five decades, environmental awareness among people has increased worldwide, but the focus of attention has shifted from time to time. In the 1960s and 1970s, pollution got the most attention from the public, especially in Western countries. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, published in 1962, which depicts the effects of pollution on animals and humans, was one of many books inciting environmental awareness among Americans.
A few years later, the world was horrified with the news of deadly diseases occurring in Minamata Bay in Japan caused by mercury pollution. The first United Nations Environmental Conference was held in Stockholm in 1972, in response to environmental problems. The opening day of the conference, June 5, was then made World Environmental Day.
In the 1980s, global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion and biodiversity loss gained wide recognition among scientists, but biodiversity came out the hottest issue in the 1990s. A new field of science, conservation biology, emerged in the 1980s.
The renowned biologist from Harvard University, Edward O. Wilson, may be the most prominent person in popularizing biodiversity. In the American North Pacific, the presence of the spotted owl in old growth forests created a fierce debate between environmental activists, who wanted to preserve the forests, and loggers, who wanted to harvest the timber. The rapid depletion of tropical rain forest in Latin America and Southeast Asia sparked serious worldwide concern over the possible extinction of many species of plants and animals.
While many environmental problems still get the attention of scientists in the first decade of the 21st century, none is more popular today than global warming and climate change. Not only environmental activists, but also politicians have serious concern over this issue. The main cause of global warming is the increase of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, and deforestation is one source of carbon emissions.
With its annual forest fires, Indonesia has been branded the third largest carbon polluter in the world. At the International Conference on Climate held in Bali in December last year, the delegates agreed on a plan to reduce carbon emissions by preventing deforestation and forest degradation.
The emphasis on global warming may shift the view on the role of forest. While a few years ago, the forest was perceived by environmental activists as habitat for wild animals and plants, it is now seen mostly as a carbon sink. A few years ago, the reason for preserving natural forests was to protect biodiversity, now it is to prevent the release of carbon retained in the timber.
This reason is, however, easily challenged by forest companies that want to harvest more timber. While old growth forests do retain a large amount of carbon, they do not absorb much carbon from the atmosphere. As the forest reaches climax stage, it no longer grows. The amount of carbon absorbed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis is equal to that released through respiration.
If we just want to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, replacing old forests with new tree plantations is the answer. When an old forest is harvested, not all the carbon in the wood is released into the atmosphere. Some is still retained in the form of furniture and other wood products. Meanwhile, the new fast growing tree plantations will absorb carbon in larger amounts than old forest.
The net rate of carbon absorption slows down as trees reach the mature stage. If the shift of "biodiversity paradigm" to "carbon sink paradigm" gains more support among foresters, the pressure from forest industries to harvest more timber in natural forests will get stronger. Forest industries are very willing to promote the controversial idea of Patrick Moore (a former Greenpeace activist who established Greenspirit, a consulting firm on the environment and natural resources) to use more wood because a rise in wood demand would supposedly trigger the market to plant more trees.
Local government officials and parliament members will be very happy to hear this idea because they will have a strong argument to clear-cut natural forests and get a lot of money from the timber. Not only natural forests in production forest areas, but also in conservation forest areas will likely be harvested since the central government has little power to protect it.
These companies just want to get money from the timber and not to make plantations. The government has little power nor political will to punish these companies. If the forest companies want to make tree plantations in order to get more wood and absorb carbon at the same time, they can do so in degraded forest areas, which account for about 60 million hectares, and in critical land within and outside forest areas, which is 41 million hectares. They must not convert good-quality natural forest into tree plantations.
The remaining natural forest stands in production forest areas should be harvested using the existing selective cutting methods, but with better control. Natural forest stands in conservation forest areas must be preserved. Climax forest is, of course, not a net carbon absorber. But we must not reduce the function of forests just as a carbon sink. Forests have many functions, one of which is preserving biodiversity. In our rich natural forests exist a great multitude of living things. They provide a gene bank that will save agricultural crops when pest and disease outbreaks occur, because the wild relatives of our crop species, usually more resistant to pest and diseases, can be used to create new resistant strains.
Our natural forests also contain countless species of plants and animals having pharmaceutical potential that someday will provide medicines to save humans from currently incurable diseases. Forests serve many functions and not just a carbon sink. Our wonderful species-rich natural forests are definitely much more valuable than the species-poor, man-made forests. We must do our best to protect this precious heritage. The writer holds a PhD in ecology from The Ohio State University and is currently serving as head of the Department of Forestry, University of Bengkulu.
Copyright 2008, Jakarta Post
Source: Copyright 2008, Jakarta Post Date: May 13, 2008
In the last five decades, environmental awareness among people has increased worldwide, but the focus of attention has shifted from time to time. In the 1960s and 1970s, pollution got the most attention from the public, especially in Western countries. Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, published in 1962, which depicts the effects of pollution on animals and humans, was one of many books inciting environmental awareness among Americans.
A few years later, the world was horrified with the news of deadly diseases occurring in Minamata Bay in Japan caused by mercury pollution. The first United Nations Environmental Conference was held in Stockholm in 1972, in response to environmental problems. The opening day of the conference, June 5, was then made World Environmental Day.
In the 1980s, global warming, acid rain, ozone depletion and biodiversity loss gained wide recognition among scientists, but biodiversity came out the hottest issue in the 1990s. A new field of science, conservation biology, emerged in the 1980s.
The renowned biologist from Harvard University, Edward O. Wilson, may be the most prominent person in popularizing biodiversity. In the American North Pacific, the presence of the spotted owl in old growth forests created a fierce debate between environmental activists, who wanted to preserve the forests, and loggers, who wanted to harvest the timber. The rapid depletion of tropical rain forest in Latin America and Southeast Asia sparked serious worldwide concern over the possible extinction of many species of plants and animals.
While many environmental problems still get the attention of scientists in the first decade of the 21st century, none is more popular today than global warming and climate change. Not only environmental activists, but also politicians have serious concern over this issue. The main cause of global warming is the increase of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, and deforestation is one source of carbon emissions.
With its annual forest fires, Indonesia has been branded the third largest carbon polluter in the world. At the International Conference on Climate held in Bali in December last year, the delegates agreed on a plan to reduce carbon emissions by preventing deforestation and forest degradation.
The emphasis on global warming may shift the view on the role of forest. While a few years ago, the forest was perceived by environmental activists as habitat for wild animals and plants, it is now seen mostly as a carbon sink. A few years ago, the reason for preserving natural forests was to protect biodiversity, now it is to prevent the release of carbon retained in the timber.
This reason is, however, easily challenged by forest companies that want to harvest more timber. While old growth forests do retain a large amount of carbon, they do not absorb much carbon from the atmosphere. As the forest reaches climax stage, it no longer grows. The amount of carbon absorbed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis is equal to that released through respiration.
If we just want to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, replacing old forests with new tree plantations is the answer. When an old forest is harvested, not all the carbon in the wood is released into the atmosphere. Some is still retained in the form of furniture and other wood products. Meanwhile, the new fast growing tree plantations will absorb carbon in larger amounts than old forest.
The net rate of carbon absorption slows down as trees reach the mature stage. If the shift of "biodiversity paradigm" to "carbon sink paradigm" gains more support among foresters, the pressure from forest industries to harvest more timber in natural forests will get stronger. Forest industries are very willing to promote the controversial idea of Patrick Moore (a former Greenpeace activist who established Greenspirit, a consulting firm on the environment and natural resources) to use more wood because a rise in wood demand would supposedly trigger the market to plant more trees.
Local government officials and parliament members will be very happy to hear this idea because they will have a strong argument to clear-cut natural forests and get a lot of money from the timber. Not only natural forests in production forest areas, but also in conservation forest areas will likely be harvested since the central government has little power to protect it.
These companies just want to get money from the timber and not to make plantations. The government has little power nor political will to punish these companies. If the forest companies want to make tree plantations in order to get more wood and absorb carbon at the same time, they can do so in degraded forest areas, which account for about 60 million hectares, and in critical land within and outside forest areas, which is 41 million hectares. They must not convert good-quality natural forest into tree plantations.
The remaining natural forest stands in production forest areas should be harvested using the existing selective cutting methods, but with better control. Natural forest stands in conservation forest areas must be preserved. Climax forest is, of course, not a net carbon absorber. But we must not reduce the function of forests just as a carbon sink. Forests have many functions, one of which is preserving biodiversity. In our rich natural forests exist a great multitude of living things. They provide a gene bank that will save agricultural crops when pest and disease outbreaks occur, because the wild relatives of our crop species, usually more resistant to pest and diseases, can be used to create new resistant strains.
Our natural forests also contain countless species of plants and animals having pharmaceutical potential that someday will provide medicines to save humans from currently incurable diseases. Forests serve many functions and not just a carbon sink. Our wonderful species-rich natural forests are definitely much more valuable than the species-poor, man-made forests. We must do our best to protect this precious heritage. The writer holds a PhD in ecology from The Ohio State University and is currently serving as head of the Department of Forestry, University of Bengkulu.
Copyright 2008, Jakarta Post
International Paper Threatens to Violate Own Policy by Expanding Into Indonesian Rainforest
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 12, 2008 5:40 PM
CONTACT: Rainforest Action NetworkSam Haswell, Communications Director(415) 659-0519 Cameron Scott, Communications Manager(415) 659-0541 Nell Greenberg, Communications Manager(415) 659-0557 media@ran.org
International Paper Threatens to Violate Own Policy by Expanding Into Indonesian Rainforest
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - May 12 - Rainforest Action Network and ForestEthics today condemned a proposal by U.S.-based International Paper to build a pulp mill and establish 1.2 million acres of plantation forest in the heart of the Indonesian rainforest. The groups urged International Paper, which is holding its Annual General Meeting today, to not violate its own paper policy and to abandon its plans to expand into Indonesia, a global warming and biodiversity hot spot.
The policy,[1] announced in 2003, states: “International Paper will not procure or use wood that originates in biological hotspots or endangered, native forests in Indonesia or other parts of the world designated by Conservation International, as biodiversity hotspots or major tropical wilderness areas. We will assure that any wood procured from within the boundaries of these special areas comes solely from plantations and that our procurement practices do not jeopardize the ecological integrity of these hotspots.”
“Most Indonesian wood is either harvested illegally or taken without consent from the country’s Indigenous peoples,” said Brant Olson, director of Rainforest Action Network’s Old Growth Campaign. “A move by International Paper to break its own commitment by sourcing from Indonesia would be a major setback for the climate, biodiversity, and Indonesia’s forest communities.”
International Paper is among the world’s biggest pulp and paper producers. In 2003, it joined home builder Centex Homes and home improvement retailer Lanoga in announcing it would stop buying Indonesian wood products until the Indonesian government sufficiently addressed illegal logging within its borders and respected the property rights of its Indigenous populations. Since then, logging practices have further deteriorated, Indonesia’s small farmers and Indigenous groups continue to be pushed off their traditional lands, and the country’s carbon-rich forests and peatlands are disappearing at the alarming rate of more than 2.8 million hectares a year.
Major environment groups in Indonesia are calling for a moratorium on any expansion of the pulp and paper industry or further forest conversion, due to its enormous social and environmental impacts. Recent research indicates that deforestation in Indonesia is happening at a faster rate than anywhere else on earth, a trend that has catapulted the nation into its current position as the world’s 3rd largest carbon dioxide emitter.
“Each year, deforestation in Indonesia accounts for more emissions than all the cars, planes, buses and trucks in the U.S. combined – and much of this can be tied back to forest conversion and the pulp and paper industry,” said Lafcadio Cortesi of ForestEthics. “It’s imperative that IP publicly reject any proposals for expansion into Indonesia given the current problems with the industry, illegal logging, and the impacts of deforestation on the climate and unique ecosystems of Indonesia.”
[1] International Paper Policy on Indonesian Wood, September 2002
CONTACT: Rainforest Action NetworkSam Haswell, Communications Director(415) 659-0519 Cameron Scott, Communications Manager(415) 659-0541 Nell Greenberg, Communications Manager(415) 659-0557 media@ran.org
International Paper Threatens to Violate Own Policy by Expanding Into Indonesian Rainforest
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - May 12 - Rainforest Action Network and ForestEthics today condemned a proposal by U.S.-based International Paper to build a pulp mill and establish 1.2 million acres of plantation forest in the heart of the Indonesian rainforest. The groups urged International Paper, which is holding its Annual General Meeting today, to not violate its own paper policy and to abandon its plans to expand into Indonesia, a global warming and biodiversity hot spot.
The policy,[1] announced in 2003, states: “International Paper will not procure or use wood that originates in biological hotspots or endangered, native forests in Indonesia or other parts of the world designated by Conservation International, as biodiversity hotspots or major tropical wilderness areas. We will assure that any wood procured from within the boundaries of these special areas comes solely from plantations and that our procurement practices do not jeopardize the ecological integrity of these hotspots.”
“Most Indonesian wood is either harvested illegally or taken without consent from the country’s Indigenous peoples,” said Brant Olson, director of Rainforest Action Network’s Old Growth Campaign. “A move by International Paper to break its own commitment by sourcing from Indonesia would be a major setback for the climate, biodiversity, and Indonesia’s forest communities.”
International Paper is among the world’s biggest pulp and paper producers. In 2003, it joined home builder Centex Homes and home improvement retailer Lanoga in announcing it would stop buying Indonesian wood products until the Indonesian government sufficiently addressed illegal logging within its borders and respected the property rights of its Indigenous populations. Since then, logging practices have further deteriorated, Indonesia’s small farmers and Indigenous groups continue to be pushed off their traditional lands, and the country’s carbon-rich forests and peatlands are disappearing at the alarming rate of more than 2.8 million hectares a year.
Major environment groups in Indonesia are calling for a moratorium on any expansion of the pulp and paper industry or further forest conversion, due to its enormous social and environmental impacts. Recent research indicates that deforestation in Indonesia is happening at a faster rate than anywhere else on earth, a trend that has catapulted the nation into its current position as the world’s 3rd largest carbon dioxide emitter.
“Each year, deforestation in Indonesia accounts for more emissions than all the cars, planes, buses and trucks in the U.S. combined – and much of this can be tied back to forest conversion and the pulp and paper industry,” said Lafcadio Cortesi of ForestEthics. “It’s imperative that IP publicly reject any proposals for expansion into Indonesia given the current problems with the industry, illegal logging, and the impacts of deforestation on the climate and unique ecosystems of Indonesia.”
[1] International Paper Policy on Indonesian Wood, September 2002
Joint move against log thieves
The StarOnline - Malaysia
Tuesday May 13, 2008
Joint move against log thieves
KUCHING: Sarawak will set up an inter-agency coordination committee to streamline enforcement against illegal logging.
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said coordination among the Forest Department, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation would enhance their capabilities in managing the state’s forests.
“These agencies will pool their resources together to enable the government to tackle illegal logging more efficiently,” he told the state assembly yesterday when winding up the debate on matters related to his ministry.
He said the state government had drafted tougher laws on illegal logging, which include jailing offenders for between one and five years and a fining them up to 10 times the value of the goods seized.
“In addition, the burden of proof will be on the suspects while those found in possession of suspected illegal logs must prove ownership and that they have paid all the relevant charges and royalties.''
On another matter, Awang Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister, said his ministry would pursue its proposal to the Federal Government to draw up a master plan to identify villages and longhouses still without electricity and study the feasibility of supplying power through the grid or alternative systems.
“The study will be a basis for comprehensive planning and budgeting in the implementation of rural electrification projects in the state.”
Tuesday May 13, 2008
Joint move against log thieves
KUCHING: Sarawak will set up an inter-agency coordination committee to streamline enforcement against illegal logging.
Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said coordination among the Forest Department, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation and the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation would enhance their capabilities in managing the state’s forests.
“These agencies will pool their resources together to enable the government to tackle illegal logging more efficiently,” he told the state assembly yesterday when winding up the debate on matters related to his ministry.
He said the state government had drafted tougher laws on illegal logging, which include jailing offenders for between one and five years and a fining them up to 10 times the value of the goods seized.
“In addition, the burden of proof will be on the suspects while those found in possession of suspected illegal logs must prove ownership and that they have paid all the relevant charges and royalties.''
On another matter, Awang Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister, said his ministry would pursue its proposal to the Federal Government to draw up a master plan to identify villages and longhouses still without electricity and study the feasibility of supplying power through the grid or alternative systems.
“The study will be a basis for comprehensive planning and budgeting in the implementation of rural electrification projects in the state.”
KPK in Riau for inquiry audit
Jakarta Post 14th May
KPK in Riau for inquiry audit
Wed, 05/14/2008
PEKANBARU: Investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have arrived in Riau to audit the police investigation into illegal logging graft cases in the province.
KPK deputy chief on prevention affairs, Haryono Umar, is leading the audit, including a three-member team researching the difficulties police have faced while investigating graft cases in the forestry sector.
"We want to know what hurdles the police are facing in collecting legal evidence, conducting investigations and obtaining permits to interrogate public officials," he said.
A second KPK team managed by John C.E. Nababan is based in Pelalawan to further investigate the graft case involving regent Azmun Jaafar, who has been detained by the KPK in connection to forest concessions issued to timber companies.
In an intensive operation to crack down on illegal logging in the province, the police have submitted around 150 dossiers to the district attorney's office and district courts. Several dossiers have been returned and suspects acquitted of charges from lack of evidence. --JP
KPK in Riau for inquiry audit
Wed, 05/14/2008
PEKANBARU: Investigators from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) have arrived in Riau to audit the police investigation into illegal logging graft cases in the province.
KPK deputy chief on prevention affairs, Haryono Umar, is leading the audit, including a three-member team researching the difficulties police have faced while investigating graft cases in the forestry sector.
"We want to know what hurdles the police are facing in collecting legal evidence, conducting investigations and obtaining permits to interrogate public officials," he said.
A second KPK team managed by John C.E. Nababan is based in Pelalawan to further investigate the graft case involving regent Azmun Jaafar, who has been detained by the KPK in connection to forest concessions issued to timber companies.
In an intensive operation to crack down on illegal logging in the province, the police have submitted around 150 dossiers to the district attorney's office and district courts. Several dossiers have been returned and suspects acquitted of charges from lack of evidence. --JP
Police back Tempo in logging libel suit
Jakarta Post 14th May
Police back Tempo in logging libel suit
A police officer has testified in the libel case brought against Tempo Magazine by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) over its reports on illegal logging.
Adj. Comr. Hersadwi, a police officer from Riau province, was one of two witnesses brought by Tempo's lawyer Hendrayana on Tuesday to prove that the magazine had a basis for mentioning RAPP in its reports on illegal logging published on July 6, 12 and 13 of 2007.
The other witness was an activist from Jakalahari, a local non-governmental organization concerned with environmental issues.
"We are investigating several illegal logging cases, including the one committed by RAPP. From the cases, we have about 30 suspects," Hersadwi said after the close of the day's trial proceedings at the South Jakarta District Court.
The police officer also confirmed he made statements to a Tempo journalist.
Hendrayana said a RAPP employee had been named as a suspect by the Riau Police in the illegal logging case.
RAPP filed a libel suit against Tempo with the South Jakarta District court last August.
In the suit, RAPP lawyers demanded the court order Tempo to pay the company Rp 1 billion (US$108,301) in material losses and Rp 500 million for immaterial losses following Tempo's allegations against the pulp and paper firm.
Hendrayana said Tempo journalists wrote the stories based on facts gathered from several sources, including the Riau Police.
"They did not make up the stories. The information was accurate because the facts were based on a police investigation and Jakalahari's research," he said.
During Tuesday's trial session the representative from Jakalahari also confirmed that Tempo had used data submitted by the NGO in its articles.
Tempo will present an expert witness to testify in the next trial session scheduled for May 27. (trw)
Police back Tempo in logging libel suit
A police officer has testified in the libel case brought against Tempo Magazine by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) over its reports on illegal logging.
Adj. Comr. Hersadwi, a police officer from Riau province, was one of two witnesses brought by Tempo's lawyer Hendrayana on Tuesday to prove that the magazine had a basis for mentioning RAPP in its reports on illegal logging published on July 6, 12 and 13 of 2007.
The other witness was an activist from Jakalahari, a local non-governmental organization concerned with environmental issues.
"We are investigating several illegal logging cases, including the one committed by RAPP. From the cases, we have about 30 suspects," Hersadwi said after the close of the day's trial proceedings at the South Jakarta District Court.
The police officer also confirmed he made statements to a Tempo journalist.
Hendrayana said a RAPP employee had been named as a suspect by the Riau Police in the illegal logging case.
RAPP filed a libel suit against Tempo with the South Jakarta District court last August.
In the suit, RAPP lawyers demanded the court order Tempo to pay the company Rp 1 billion (US$108,301) in material losses and Rp 500 million for immaterial losses following Tempo's allegations against the pulp and paper firm.
Hendrayana said Tempo journalists wrote the stories based on facts gathered from several sources, including the Riau Police.
"They did not make up the stories. The information was accurate because the facts were based on a police investigation and Jakalahari's research," he said.
During Tuesday's trial session the representative from Jakalahari also confirmed that Tempo had used data submitted by the NGO in its articles.
Tempo will present an expert witness to testify in the next trial session scheduled for May 27. (trw)
National Geographic
Similar to the film below. Again, made by The Centre for Orangutan Protection. This time with some English translation.
This film is just a few minutes long.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080508-orangutan-video-ap.html
This film is just a few minutes long.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080508-orangutan-video-ap.html
Govt urged to review forest concessions in Riau
It's no surprise that the Minister of Forestry does not want his ministry investigated by the anti-corruption officers.......who are looking closely at numerous cases of illegal logging etc.
Jakarta Post 14th May 2008
Govt urged to review forest concessions in Riau
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru
The Indonesian Environmental Forum's (Walhi) Riau branch urged the government Tuesday to revise numerous controversial industrial forest concessions issued contrary to the law.
The forum was responding to Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban's recent statement, which asked authorities in the province to stop issuing new concessions to end illegal logging prevalent in the province.
"The statement comes too late as the forest has already been damaged. There is in fact no space left for new licenses here. The minister is just giving lip service," said Walhi Riau coordinator, Jhony Setiawan Munding, here on Tuesday.
The forestry minister at the weekend said his office would no longer issue new concessions that allow forest in Riau to be converted into industrial forests.
He said there had been an adequate number of concessions given in the province and that the measure was being implemented because many concessions were overlapping.
Jhony told he Jakarta Post on Tuesday that according to a 2004 survey 3.2 million hectares out of 6.8 million had been converted into palm oil plantations.
"We have 2.5 million hectares of forest left in the province including the national park, nature preserve, protected forests, and critical areas," he said.
He said 160,00 hectares of forest in Riau was damaged each year since 2002.
"What the forestry minister must do is not to stop issuing new concessions, but rather to review the ones issued through corrupt and conspirative practices, as indicated by recent Corruption Eradication Commission arrests of several regents and other officials in the province," Jhony said.
In 2005, the Ministry of Forestry verified 36 concessions in the province. Only five were issued in accordance with procedure, he said.
Many other concessions have been questioned because they are part of natural rainforests.
"Industrial forest concessions can only be issued for coarse grass areas, bushes, or critical fields," said Jhony.
The controversial concessions, according to Jhony, were mainly issued by local regents who did so without approval from the local legislature councils, the governor or the forestry ministry.
Most were issued between 2002 and 2005 with a belief that in the era of autonomy forests were under the authority of the regental governments.
"Forest conversion requires the minister's approvals," said Jhony.
Forest concession holders have to use selective cutting, he said, while industrial forest concession holders are allowed to slash all trees in their land areas.
Spokesman for pulp and paper mills PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (IKPP) Nazaruddin said the government's pledge to stop issuing new concessions would not affect his company's timber production.
"With the areas we have, we are confident we can still supply nine million tons of raw materials to meet our 1.9 million-ton pulp production capacity," he said.
He said his company currently has a concession area of nearly 300,000 hectares plus its partner's area of 300,000 hectare.
Nazaruddin said his company was presently promoting the development of the people's forest to empower locals and to maintain raw materials supply to the mills.
Jakarta Post 14th May 2008
Govt urged to review forest concessions in Riau
Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru
The Indonesian Environmental Forum's (Walhi) Riau branch urged the government Tuesday to revise numerous controversial industrial forest concessions issued contrary to the law.
The forum was responding to Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban's recent statement, which asked authorities in the province to stop issuing new concessions to end illegal logging prevalent in the province.
"The statement comes too late as the forest has already been damaged. There is in fact no space left for new licenses here. The minister is just giving lip service," said Walhi Riau coordinator, Jhony Setiawan Munding, here on Tuesday.
The forestry minister at the weekend said his office would no longer issue new concessions that allow forest in Riau to be converted into industrial forests.
He said there had been an adequate number of concessions given in the province and that the measure was being implemented because many concessions were overlapping.
Jhony told he Jakarta Post on Tuesday that according to a 2004 survey 3.2 million hectares out of 6.8 million had been converted into palm oil plantations.
"We have 2.5 million hectares of forest left in the province including the national park, nature preserve, protected forests, and critical areas," he said.
He said 160,00 hectares of forest in Riau was damaged each year since 2002.
"What the forestry minister must do is not to stop issuing new concessions, but rather to review the ones issued through corrupt and conspirative practices, as indicated by recent Corruption Eradication Commission arrests of several regents and other officials in the province," Jhony said.
In 2005, the Ministry of Forestry verified 36 concessions in the province. Only five were issued in accordance with procedure, he said.
Many other concessions have been questioned because they are part of natural rainforests.
"Industrial forest concessions can only be issued for coarse grass areas, bushes, or critical fields," said Jhony.
The controversial concessions, according to Jhony, were mainly issued by local regents who did so without approval from the local legislature councils, the governor or the forestry ministry.
Most were issued between 2002 and 2005 with a belief that in the era of autonomy forests were under the authority of the regental governments.
"Forest conversion requires the minister's approvals," said Jhony.
Forest concession holders have to use selective cutting, he said, while industrial forest concession holders are allowed to slash all trees in their land areas.
Spokesman for pulp and paper mills PT Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper (IKPP) Nazaruddin said the government's pledge to stop issuing new concessions would not affect his company's timber production.
"With the areas we have, we are confident we can still supply nine million tons of raw materials to meet our 1.9 million-ton pulp production capacity," he said.
He said his company currently has a concession area of nearly 300,000 hectares plus its partner's area of 300,000 hectare.
Nazaruddin said his company was presently promoting the development of the people's forest to empower locals and to maintain raw materials supply to the mills.
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
Indonesian Warship Captures Boat Carrying Illegal Logs
Indonesian Warship Captures Boat Carrying Illegal Logs
Source: Antara News - May 10, 2008
Surabaya, East JavaAn Indonesian warship, the KRI Yos Sudarso-353, intercepted a boat carrying around 2,776 cubic meters of suspected illegal logs during a routine patrol in Semarang waters on Thursday.
"The 1,269-GT TK Unitama 11 which we nabbed on Thursday (May 8) was sailing under an Indonesia`s flag," Lt Col Toni Syaiful, spokesman of the Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command, said here Saturday. The boat had been herded to a naval base in Semarang for further investigation, he said. The Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command headquartered in Surabaya has intensified marine patrols among other things to fight illegal log traffic
Source: Antara News - May 10, 2008
Surabaya, East JavaAn Indonesian warship, the KRI Yos Sudarso-353, intercepted a boat carrying around 2,776 cubic meters of suspected illegal logs during a routine patrol in Semarang waters on Thursday.
"The 1,269-GT TK Unitama 11 which we nabbed on Thursday (May 8) was sailing under an Indonesia`s flag," Lt Col Toni Syaiful, spokesman of the Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command, said here Saturday. The boat had been herded to a naval base in Semarang for further investigation, he said. The Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command headquartered in Surabaya has intensified marine patrols among other things to fight illegal log traffic
Lawmaker Grilled in Forest Graft Case
Lawmaker Grilled in Forest Graft Case
Source: The Jakarta Post - May 10, 2008 JAKARTA
The graft body summoned lawmaker I Made Urip of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle on Friday in relation to an allegedly illegal forest conversion in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Urip about thedecision-making process for granting permission for a forest conversion. "I was questioned as a witness in the case involving Sarjan Taher," Urip said. Urip has denied involvement in the case. Last week, the KPK arrested Sarjan, another member of the House of Representatives' Commission IV for forestry and agriculture, as a suspecti n the same case, which centers on the conversion of a mangrove forest into a seaport. --JP
Source: The Jakarta Post - May 10, 2008 JAKARTA
The graft body summoned lawmaker I Made Urip of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle on Friday in relation to an allegedly illegal forest conversion in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Urip about thedecision-making process for granting permission for a forest conversion. "I was questioned as a witness in the case involving Sarjan Taher," Urip said. Urip has denied involvement in the case. Last week, the KPK arrested Sarjan, another member of the House of Representatives' Commission IV for forestry and agriculture, as a suspecti n the same case, which centers on the conversion of a mangrove forest into a seaport. --JP
Indonesia Losing US$16 bln Per Year By Natural Resources Theft
Indonesia Losing US$16 bln Per Year By Natural Resources Theft
Source: Antara News - May 9, 2008 Magelang, Central Java
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said Indonesia`s natural resources whichwere stolen each year reached a total value of US$16 billion."We have been losing 16 billion dollars every year since 2004," the minister said after planting a `sawo` tree within the Military Academy complex here on Thursday.
He said based on a report he had received from the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries, the theft included illegal logging, fish poaching, drug and human trafficking. Juwono said the defense ministry was cooperating with other agencies such as the customs and excise office to build a joint weaponry strength for joint patrols to fight natural resource theft.
He said the natural resource thieves had strong capital and ships and were well-organized to operate illegally in Indonesia`s waters. "They are well-organized in carrying out illegal logging, fish poaching andsmuggling (particularly fuel oils)," he said. He said due to financial constraints, the only thing that could be done at present was cooperationamong the government agencies to face natural resource theft.
Speaking before the Military Academy`s cadets, Juwono said that the minimum budget the defense ministry needed in 2008 was about 100 trillion rupiah.The amount was needed to build a relatively strong defense system, he said. He said the country`s state budget was about Rp782 trillion, of which some 80 percent was for development of the economic sector and people`s welfare and 20 percent for political, legal and human rights sectors.
The defense sector got Rp32 trillion for the development of strength in the Army, Navy and Air Force, he added."The Ministry of Defense has to be accurate in calculating its spending so that the state can be defended. We know that our budget is insufficient and we have to give in because the economic sector and people`s prosperity are more important. We are aware that the state is giving priority to thepoor," he said.
Source: Antara News - May 9, 2008 Magelang, Central Java
Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said Indonesia`s natural resources whichwere stolen each year reached a total value of US$16 billion."We have been losing 16 billion dollars every year since 2004," the minister said after planting a `sawo` tree within the Military Academy complex here on Thursday.
He said based on a report he had received from the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries, the theft included illegal logging, fish poaching, drug and human trafficking. Juwono said the defense ministry was cooperating with other agencies such as the customs and excise office to build a joint weaponry strength for joint patrols to fight natural resource theft.
He said the natural resource thieves had strong capital and ships and were well-organized to operate illegally in Indonesia`s waters. "They are well-organized in carrying out illegal logging, fish poaching andsmuggling (particularly fuel oils)," he said. He said due to financial constraints, the only thing that could be done at present was cooperationamong the government agencies to face natural resource theft.
Speaking before the Military Academy`s cadets, Juwono said that the minimum budget the defense ministry needed in 2008 was about 100 trillion rupiah.The amount was needed to build a relatively strong defense system, he said. He said the country`s state budget was about Rp782 trillion, of which some 80 percent was for development of the economic sector and people`s welfare and 20 percent for political, legal and human rights sectors.
The defense sector got Rp32 trillion for the development of strength in the Army, Navy and Air Force, he added."The Ministry of Defense has to be accurate in calculating its spending so that the state can be defended. We know that our budget is insufficient and we have to give in because the economic sector and people`s prosperity are more important. We are aware that the state is giving priority to thepoor," he said.
KPK, Riau Police Cooperate To Tackle Illegal Logging Cases
KPK, Riau Police Cooperate To Tackle Illegal Logging Cases
Source: EoF News (http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/) - May 7, 2008 PEKANBARU
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Riau Police Office would synchronize efforts to tackle environmental crime inquiries in the province as the reshuffled chief of police met the popular institution early thisweek, reports said.
Riau Police Chief Brig.- Gen. Sutjiptadi, who will soon leave his post, was invited by KPK on Monday in Jakarta to discuss the update of "illegal logging cases" allegedly involved two pulp and paper companies as well as the government officials.
KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said that some of illegal logging dossiers were submitted by the Riau Police Chief during the meeting. "To see whether there are corruption verdict or not," Johan said as reported by Koran Tempodaily today (7 May 2008)."From data [we] received, there is 1.2 million hectares of [Riau's] forest that cleared and abandoned," he said.
Johan said Sutjiptadi -who was reshuffled to Governor of Police Academy in Semarang of Central Java- admitted that some problems found in his effor tto probe illegal logging cases in Riau. Tempo mentioned that Riau Police Office handed over alleged corruption cases to KPK relating to logging licenses issued for 1.7 million hectares of pulpwood plantation (HTI).
The realization for HTI is only 657,000 hectares where the rest is abandoned as the police suspected that the concession holders just wanted to clear natural forest, the police report quoted by Koran Tempo(7/5/2008).
Riau Terkini website reported Monday (5/5/2008) that KPK and Sutjiptadionly coordinated to identify progress report and obstruction found in finishing the probe. KPK tackles corruption case which involved Pelalawan District Head, AzmunJaafar, who has issued logging licenses where it is not his authority.
Azmun Jaafar has been detained in Jakarta by KPK since December last year."We only handle Pelalawan case, while other districts in Riau [we] haven'tdone yet. Therefore KPK need guidance for other cases, that is the aim of coordination recently," Johan Budi said as quoted by Riau Terkini(5/5/2008). The newly-appointed chief of Riau Police, Brig.- Gen. Hadiatmoko, would continue the coordination with KPK, the spokesperson said. Johny Mundung, Director Executive of Walhi Riau, an environmental NGO, hailed the handing over of illegal logging cases to KPK which would raise a new hope for Riau community, he said as reported by Koran Tempo.
"Legalprocess by the police is so slow and uncertain," he said. Susanto Kurniawan, coordinator of Jikalahari, the Riau NGOs network, said that illegal loggers get protection from political party elites and politicians.
Meanwhile, last week police have found 3,872 logs which they claimed as illegal in the banks of canal in Kampar Peninsula forest block or in Sungai Aras, Pelalawan district. The logs belonged to CV Alam Lestari, a company affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited(APRIL), Koran Tempo reported (5/5/2008). The police said CV Alam Lestari cleared the natural forest based on logging license issued by detained Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar. Therefore they seized the logs and would probe its director. CV Alam Lestari claimed that their logs are legal and it has paid tax and provision to the government. "We hope the police to release our client'slogs. Unless, we would take a civil lawsuit," said Juniver Girsang, its lawyer last week (Kompas 30/4/2008).
Thousand of logs were also found in Sungai Galang River, Desa Mentulik of Kampar district which believed coming from Tesso Nilo protected forest(Koran Tempo, 2/5/2008). Hariansyah Usman, deputi coordinator of Jikalahari, said that illegal logging operation in protected area continue to occur due to the law enforcement is still in stalemate.
Source: EoF News (http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/) - May 7, 2008 PEKANBARU
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and Riau Police Office would synchronize efforts to tackle environmental crime inquiries in the province as the reshuffled chief of police met the popular institution early thisweek, reports said.
Riau Police Chief Brig.- Gen. Sutjiptadi, who will soon leave his post, was invited by KPK on Monday in Jakarta to discuss the update of "illegal logging cases" allegedly involved two pulp and paper companies as well as the government officials.
KPK spokesperson Johan Budi said that some of illegal logging dossiers were submitted by the Riau Police Chief during the meeting. "To see whether there are corruption verdict or not," Johan said as reported by Koran Tempodaily today (7 May 2008)."From data [we] received, there is 1.2 million hectares of [Riau's] forest that cleared and abandoned," he said.
Johan said Sutjiptadi -who was reshuffled to Governor of Police Academy in Semarang of Central Java- admitted that some problems found in his effor tto probe illegal logging cases in Riau. Tempo mentioned that Riau Police Office handed over alleged corruption cases to KPK relating to logging licenses issued for 1.7 million hectares of pulpwood plantation (HTI).
The realization for HTI is only 657,000 hectares where the rest is abandoned as the police suspected that the concession holders just wanted to clear natural forest, the police report quoted by Koran Tempo(7/5/2008).
Riau Terkini website reported Monday (5/5/2008) that KPK and Sutjiptadionly coordinated to identify progress report and obstruction found in finishing the probe. KPK tackles corruption case which involved Pelalawan District Head, AzmunJaafar, who has issued logging licenses where it is not his authority.
Azmun Jaafar has been detained in Jakarta by KPK since December last year."We only handle Pelalawan case, while other districts in Riau [we] haven'tdone yet. Therefore KPK need guidance for other cases, that is the aim of coordination recently," Johan Budi said as quoted by Riau Terkini(5/5/2008). The newly-appointed chief of Riau Police, Brig.- Gen. Hadiatmoko, would continue the coordination with KPK, the spokesperson said. Johny Mundung, Director Executive of Walhi Riau, an environmental NGO, hailed the handing over of illegal logging cases to KPK which would raise a new hope for Riau community, he said as reported by Koran Tempo.
"Legalprocess by the police is so slow and uncertain," he said. Susanto Kurniawan, coordinator of Jikalahari, the Riau NGOs network, said that illegal loggers get protection from political party elites and politicians.
Meanwhile, last week police have found 3,872 logs which they claimed as illegal in the banks of canal in Kampar Peninsula forest block or in Sungai Aras, Pelalawan district. The logs belonged to CV Alam Lestari, a company affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited(APRIL), Koran Tempo reported (5/5/2008). The police said CV Alam Lestari cleared the natural forest based on logging license issued by detained Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar. Therefore they seized the logs and would probe its director. CV Alam Lestari claimed that their logs are legal and it has paid tax and provision to the government. "We hope the police to release our client'slogs. Unless, we would take a civil lawsuit," said Juniver Girsang, its lawyer last week (Kompas 30/4/2008).
Thousand of logs were also found in Sungai Galang River, Desa Mentulik of Kampar district which believed coming from Tesso Nilo protected forest(Koran Tempo, 2/5/2008). Hariansyah Usman, deputi coordinator of Jikalahari, said that illegal logging operation in protected area continue to occur due to the law enforcement is still in stalemate.
Riau Police Chief Replaced, KPK to Probe Illegal Logging
Riau Police Chief Replaced, KPK to Probe Illegal Logging
Source: EoF (http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/)- May 5, 2008 PEKANBARU
Riau Police Chief Brig.- Gen. Sutjiptadi is one of eight provincial police chiefs whom reshuffled recently amid fears that his replacement is caused by pressure from parties resenting probe of illegal logging in the province.
Chief of Indonesian Police General Sutanto told the press that the replacement of Sutjiptadi is not a hint that the police give up the probe of Riau illegal logging cases allegedly involved regional officials as well as timber and pulp companies in the province, Tribun Pekanbaru reported Saturday (3 May 2008).
"Eradication of illegal logging in Riau still goes on. There is not a word of stop since it has been a commitment of the Indonesian Police. The war against illegal logging should be finished until zero," said Sutanto in Jakarta as reported by Tribun Pekanbaru (3/5/2008).
Sutanto said there is not any demand from other parties to replace Sutjiptadi who promoted as Inspector General and appointed Governor of Police Academy in Central Java. Brig.- Gen. Hadiatmoko, currently DirectorV of Specific Crime of Indonesian Police Crime Intelligence.
Sutjiptadi appointed as Riau Police Chief in the end of 2006 and he made breakthrough by massively conducting raid operations against companies and officials who allegedly involved in forest and environmental crimes which media dubbed as illegal logging cases.
There are 215 cases that the police probed involving hundreds of suspects including employees and executive of timber and pulp companies as well as regional officials. "Currently there are only 14 cases which unfinished, 11 out of them still wait permit of [Indonesian] President," Sutjiptadi said as quoted as saying by Tribun Pekanbaru (3/5/2008).
Deny Indrayana, a Law expert of University of Gajah Mada, Yogyakarta, said that the inquiries of illegal logging cases in Riau would stop if the replacement of Sutjiptadi was driven by certain groups' request. Sutjiptadi said that he would hand over illegal logging cases which involved the government officials to Corruption Eradication Commission(KPK) which would not need the green light from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to probe them.
Riau Terkini website reported yesterday (4/5/2008) that Sutjiptadi would submit the dossiers of corruption verdict on illegal logging cases to KPK today (5/5/2008), said Johan Budi, the KPK spokesperson."Allegations of corruption practice occur in process of issuing forest management licenses. These allegations that would be handled by KPK," he told Riau Terkini website. Meanwhile, Koran Tempo reported (2/5/2008) that the police have questioned some officials including three district heads. Riau Police Spokesperson, Zulkifli, said that the police only asked information and refused to elaborate the inquiry.
Source: EoF (http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/)- May 5, 2008 PEKANBARU
Riau Police Chief Brig.- Gen. Sutjiptadi is one of eight provincial police chiefs whom reshuffled recently amid fears that his replacement is caused by pressure from parties resenting probe of illegal logging in the province.
Chief of Indonesian Police General Sutanto told the press that the replacement of Sutjiptadi is not a hint that the police give up the probe of Riau illegal logging cases allegedly involved regional officials as well as timber and pulp companies in the province, Tribun Pekanbaru reported Saturday (3 May 2008).
"Eradication of illegal logging in Riau still goes on. There is not a word of stop since it has been a commitment of the Indonesian Police. The war against illegal logging should be finished until zero," said Sutanto in Jakarta as reported by Tribun Pekanbaru (3/5/2008).
Sutanto said there is not any demand from other parties to replace Sutjiptadi who promoted as Inspector General and appointed Governor of Police Academy in Central Java. Brig.- Gen. Hadiatmoko, currently DirectorV of Specific Crime of Indonesian Police Crime Intelligence.
Sutjiptadi appointed as Riau Police Chief in the end of 2006 and he made breakthrough by massively conducting raid operations against companies and officials who allegedly involved in forest and environmental crimes which media dubbed as illegal logging cases.
There are 215 cases that the police probed involving hundreds of suspects including employees and executive of timber and pulp companies as well as regional officials. "Currently there are only 14 cases which unfinished, 11 out of them still wait permit of [Indonesian] President," Sutjiptadi said as quoted as saying by Tribun Pekanbaru (3/5/2008).
Deny Indrayana, a Law expert of University of Gajah Mada, Yogyakarta, said that the inquiries of illegal logging cases in Riau would stop if the replacement of Sutjiptadi was driven by certain groups' request. Sutjiptadi said that he would hand over illegal logging cases which involved the government officials to Corruption Eradication Commission(KPK) which would not need the green light from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to probe them.
Riau Terkini website reported yesterday (4/5/2008) that Sutjiptadi would submit the dossiers of corruption verdict on illegal logging cases to KPK today (5/5/2008), said Johan Budi, the KPK spokesperson."Allegations of corruption practice occur in process of issuing forest management licenses. These allegations that would be handled by KPK," he told Riau Terkini website. Meanwhile, Koran Tempo reported (2/5/2008) that the police have questioned some officials including three district heads. Riau Police Spokesperson, Zulkifli, said that the police only asked information and refused to elaborate the inquiry.
Indonesia Adopts Stringent "Green" Palm Oil Standard
Indonesia Adopts Stringent "Green" Palm Oil Standard
Source: Reuters - May 7, 2008 JAKARTA
Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, plans to take firm measures aimed at ensuring palm oil firms meet stringent standards before labelling their products as eco-friendly, an industry watchdog said on Wednesday.
The rapidly expanding palm oil industry in Southeast Asia has come under attack by green groups for destroying rainforests and wildlife, as well the emission of greenhouse gases. An industry-led initiative, the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), has launched a green labelling certification process that includes commitments to preserve rainforests and wildlife and avoiding conflicts with indigenous people.
RSPO groups producers, consumers and green groups and palm oil companies that meet the criteria set by the RSPO will be able to market their certified "green products" in global markets. Desi Kusumadewi, spokeswoman of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for Indonesia, said independent surveyors will be assigned to audit palmoil plantations and certify them as 'eco-friendly'. "Hopefully, the criteria will be officially approved by the end of May," Kusumadewi said. "
Basically, Indonesia will use the international standards but it will personalise the criteria based on its own considerations."Kusumadewi said three firms -- PT Mutuagung Lestari, PT Tuv Nord and state surveyor firm PT Sucofindo -- were waiting for approval to be RSPO audit programmers in Indonesia.
Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, has already hadf our certification bodies approved by RSPO. Malaysia and Indonesia, home to more than 4 percent of the world's rainforests, produce nearly 85 percent of total palm oil. Both nations already have laws to protect tracts of rainforests against illegal logging, but green groups say penalties should be stiffened andthat more rainforests should be locked away.
Earlier this month, Unilever (UNc.AS: Quote, Profile, Research)(ULVR.L: Quote, Profile, Research), one of Indonesia's top palm oil buyers, said it will start buying palm oil from certified sustainable sources this year and aims to have all its palm oil certified by 2015.
Indonesia is estimated to have produced more than 17 million tonnes of crude palm oil in 2007. It exported about 11.9 million tonnes of palm oil products to China, India and European countries. Greenpeace estimates Indonesia had the fastest pace of deforestation in the world between 2000 and 2005, equivalent to 300 soccer pitches of forest destroyed every hour. (Reporting by Mita Valina Liem, editing by SugitaKatyal and Ben Tan)
Source: Reuters - May 7, 2008 JAKARTA
Indonesia, the world's biggest palm oil producer, plans to take firm measures aimed at ensuring palm oil firms meet stringent standards before labelling their products as eco-friendly, an industry watchdog said on Wednesday.
The rapidly expanding palm oil industry in Southeast Asia has come under attack by green groups for destroying rainforests and wildlife, as well the emission of greenhouse gases. An industry-led initiative, the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), has launched a green labelling certification process that includes commitments to preserve rainforests and wildlife and avoiding conflicts with indigenous people.
RSPO groups producers, consumers and green groups and palm oil companies that meet the criteria set by the RSPO will be able to market their certified "green products" in global markets. Desi Kusumadewi, spokeswoman of Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) for Indonesia, said independent surveyors will be assigned to audit palmoil plantations and certify them as 'eco-friendly'. "Hopefully, the criteria will be officially approved by the end of May," Kusumadewi said. "
Basically, Indonesia will use the international standards but it will personalise the criteria based on its own considerations."Kusumadewi said three firms -- PT Mutuagung Lestari, PT Tuv Nord and state surveyor firm PT Sucofindo -- were waiting for approval to be RSPO audit programmers in Indonesia.
Malaysia, the world's second-largest palm oil producer, has already hadf our certification bodies approved by RSPO. Malaysia and Indonesia, home to more than 4 percent of the world's rainforests, produce nearly 85 percent of total palm oil. Both nations already have laws to protect tracts of rainforests against illegal logging, but green groups say penalties should be stiffened andthat more rainforests should be locked away.
Earlier this month, Unilever (UNc.AS: Quote, Profile, Research)(ULVR.L: Quote, Profile, Research), one of Indonesia's top palm oil buyers, said it will start buying palm oil from certified sustainable sources this year and aims to have all its palm oil certified by 2015.
Indonesia is estimated to have produced more than 17 million tonnes of crude palm oil in 2007. It exported about 11.9 million tonnes of palm oil products to China, India and European countries. Greenpeace estimates Indonesia had the fastest pace of deforestation in the world between 2000 and 2005, equivalent to 300 soccer pitches of forest destroyed every hour. (Reporting by Mita Valina Liem, editing by SugitaKatyal and Ben Tan)
Malaysia Will Not Protect Officials Involved in Illegal Logging Case
Malaysia Will Not Protect Officials Involved in Illegal Logging Case
Source: Tempo Interactive - May 6, 2008 Jakarta
The Malaysian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Syed Hamid Albar, has promisednot to protect Malaysian senior officials involved in an illegal loggingcase in Indonesia. "They have promised to not protect them," said Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives (DPR) Agung Laksono after receiving Hamid Albar at the DPRbuilding yesterday (5/5).
During the meeting, Agung asked Hamid Albar about the possibility ofMalaysian high officials' involvement in the illegal logging case. Agungsaid Hamid confirmed that the Malaysian government would not hamper theinvestigation into its officials. Hamid Albar did not mention any names butstated his government's position as being cooperative with Indonesia forthis case.
"They are being cooperative," said Agung.Earlier, Forestry Minister Malem Sambat Kaban said that an officialnotification has been sent to the Malaysian government. "We sent it through the Foreign Affairs Department," he told Tempo.
The notification was sent after the illegal logging case in Ketapang, WestKalimantan, was uncovered.vBased on the investigation conducted by the Indonesian Police and the Forestry department, most of the illegal logs were distributed to timber factories in Malaysia, including a factory managed by a Malaysian senior official. During a large operation on 14 March, a team from the Indonesian Police Headquarters confiscated 12,000 cubic meters of logs, valued at Rp208billion.TOMI DWI RIYANTO
Source: Tempo Interactive - May 6, 2008 Jakarta
The Malaysian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Syed Hamid Albar, has promisednot to protect Malaysian senior officials involved in an illegal loggingcase in Indonesia. "They have promised to not protect them," said Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives (DPR) Agung Laksono after receiving Hamid Albar at the DPRbuilding yesterday (5/5).
During the meeting, Agung asked Hamid Albar about the possibility ofMalaysian high officials' involvement in the illegal logging case. Agungsaid Hamid confirmed that the Malaysian government would not hamper theinvestigation into its officials. Hamid Albar did not mention any names butstated his government's position as being cooperative with Indonesia forthis case.
"They are being cooperative," said Agung.Earlier, Forestry Minister Malem Sambat Kaban said that an officialnotification has been sent to the Malaysian government. "We sent it through the Foreign Affairs Department," he told Tempo.
The notification was sent after the illegal logging case in Ketapang, WestKalimantan, was uncovered.vBased on the investigation conducted by the Indonesian Police and the Forestry department, most of the illegal logs were distributed to timber factories in Malaysia, including a factory managed by a Malaysian senior official. During a large operation on 14 March, a team from the Indonesian Police Headquarters confiscated 12,000 cubic meters of logs, valued at Rp208billion.TOMI DWI RIYANTO
KPK forestry inquiry heats up
KPK forestry inquiry heats up
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Tue, 05/13/2008
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned lawmakers Wowo Ibrahim of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Syarfi Hutauruk of the Golkar Party on Monday, both members of the House of Representatives' Commission IV overseeing forestry and agriculture.
The graft body also grilled South Sumatra Public Works Agency head Dharma Dahlan.
The KPK previously named lawmakers Al Amin Nasution of the United Development Party (PPP) and Sarjan Taher of the Democratic Party, also members of Commission IV, as suspects in a bribery case. The two have been charged with accepting bribes to facilitate forest conversion approvals in Bintan, Riau Islands, and Banyuasin, South Sumatra, respectively.
Environmental activists said they expected the KPK's forest conversion investigation would not stop with Al Amin and Sarjan.
"Illegal land conversion has been going on for a long time in the country. A strong approach to law enforcement is really needed, especially since more than 50 million hectares of forest are severely damaged," said Elfian Effendi, executive director of environmental group Greenomics.
The current land conversion procedure enables corruption, he said.
The procedure generally requires any land conversion request to be recommended by the regional administration to the Forestry Minister. The minister requires approval from Commission IV before issuing a ministerial decree concerning the conversion.
KPK deputy head of prevention, Mohammad Jasin, said Monday the commission plans to study the current conversion procedure to look for any flaws that could lead to corruption.
Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Ka'ban said all approvals of land conversions were legitimate and KPK should not meddle in the legal decisions.
The minister's claim has drawn criticism from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). "A ministerial decree is not the correct legal basis for a forest conversion. Under the law, the approvals should be made by government regulation," said Rully Syumandra, a Walhi campaigner.
Article 19 of the Forestry Law states the procedure for converting a forest's function and use should be based on a government regulation.
Rully said he hoped the KPK's current investigation into corruption in the forest conversion process would help save more than 120 million hectares of rain forest in Indonesia, the world's third-largest forestry country.
"If we can't do it through an ecological approach, maybe a corruption investigation will do," he said. (dre)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Tue, 05/13/2008
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned lawmakers Wowo Ibrahim of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Syarfi Hutauruk of the Golkar Party on Monday, both members of the House of Representatives' Commission IV overseeing forestry and agriculture.
The graft body also grilled South Sumatra Public Works Agency head Dharma Dahlan.
The KPK previously named lawmakers Al Amin Nasution of the United Development Party (PPP) and Sarjan Taher of the Democratic Party, also members of Commission IV, as suspects in a bribery case. The two have been charged with accepting bribes to facilitate forest conversion approvals in Bintan, Riau Islands, and Banyuasin, South Sumatra, respectively.
Environmental activists said they expected the KPK's forest conversion investigation would not stop with Al Amin and Sarjan.
"Illegal land conversion has been going on for a long time in the country. A strong approach to law enforcement is really needed, especially since more than 50 million hectares of forest are severely damaged," said Elfian Effendi, executive director of environmental group Greenomics.
The current land conversion procedure enables corruption, he said.
The procedure generally requires any land conversion request to be recommended by the regional administration to the Forestry Minister. The minister requires approval from Commission IV before issuing a ministerial decree concerning the conversion.
KPK deputy head of prevention, Mohammad Jasin, said Monday the commission plans to study the current conversion procedure to look for any flaws that could lead to corruption.
Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Ka'ban said all approvals of land conversions were legitimate and KPK should not meddle in the legal decisions.
The minister's claim has drawn criticism from the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi). "A ministerial decree is not the correct legal basis for a forest conversion. Under the law, the approvals should be made by government regulation," said Rully Syumandra, a Walhi campaigner.
Article 19 of the Forestry Law states the procedure for converting a forest's function and use should be based on a government regulation.
Rully said he hoped the KPK's current investigation into corruption in the forest conversion process would help save more than 120 million hectares of rain forest in Indonesia, the world's third-largest forestry country.
"If we can't do it through an ecological approach, maybe a corruption investigation will do," he said. (dre)
Singapore's Wilmar Q1 net profit jumps 7 times
Singapore's Wilmar Q1 net profit jumps 7 times
Tue May 13, 2008 4:23am IST
SINGAPORE, May 13 (Reuters) - Wilmar International, Southeast Asia's largest listed palm oil firm, said on Tuesday that its first-quarter net profit rose 590 percent, helped by record high palm oil prices and higher sale volumes.
Wilmar, which owns oil palm plantations and operates milling, crushing, refining and processing plants in Indonesia and Malaysia, said its net profit rose to $343 million in the quarter ending March, from a restated $49.7 million a year earlier.
The company also has a total of four biofuel plants in Indonesia and Malaysia, with combined annual production capacity of 1.05 million tonnes.
Wilmar is expected to post a full-year 2008 net profit of $921.3 million, against $580.4 million in 2007, according to a poll of 14 analysts by Reuters Estimates.
Wilmar made its debut on the Singapore Exchange in August 2006 following a reverse takeover of Ezyhealth Asia Pacific.
In July last year, it completed the purchase of the palm plantation and edible oils businesses belonging to Malaysia's Kuok Group, a move which doubled its plantation landbank to about 570,000 hectares.
Shares in Wilmar fell by about 22 percent in the January-March quarter, after ending last year up 122 percent. The company's stock market value stands at $22.8 billion. (Reporting by Ovais Subhani; Editing by Koh Gui Qing)
Tue May 13, 2008 4:23am IST
SINGAPORE, May 13 (Reuters) - Wilmar International, Southeast Asia's largest listed palm oil firm, said on Tuesday that its first-quarter net profit rose 590 percent, helped by record high palm oil prices and higher sale volumes.
Wilmar, which owns oil palm plantations and operates milling, crushing, refining and processing plants in Indonesia and Malaysia, said its net profit rose to $343 million in the quarter ending March, from a restated $49.7 million a year earlier.
The company also has a total of four biofuel plants in Indonesia and Malaysia, with combined annual production capacity of 1.05 million tonnes.
Wilmar is expected to post a full-year 2008 net profit of $921.3 million, against $580.4 million in 2007, according to a poll of 14 analysts by Reuters Estimates.
Wilmar made its debut on the Singapore Exchange in August 2006 following a reverse takeover of Ezyhealth Asia Pacific.
In July last year, it completed the purchase of the palm plantation and edible oils businesses belonging to Malaysia's Kuok Group, a move which doubled its plantation landbank to about 570,000 hectares.
Shares in Wilmar fell by about 22 percent in the January-March quarter, after ending last year up 122 percent. The company's stock market value stands at $22.8 billion. (Reporting by Ovais Subhani; Editing by Koh Gui Qing)
Palm oil firms vow to stop using forests
This may look like good news, but don't hold your breath. Instead, let's wait and see what the palm oil industry actually does on the ground in Borneo - as opposed to what the industry claims it will do.
Jakarta Post May 13, 2008
Palm oil firms vow to stop using forests
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
Palm oil companies operating in Indonesia pledged to stop expanding plantations into forests in response to growing global criticism about deforestation and to promote more sustainable products.
Executive director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), Didiek Hadjar Goenadi, said here Monday palm oil companies would focus on utilizing idle land, including former forest concession areas, to maintain Indonesia as the world's largest crude palm oil producer.
"We realize the environmental impacts by opening all our forests so we will stop touching the forest and just concentrate on abundant lands which have not been cultivated yet," Didiek told reporters during a break in a a seminar on climate change, agriculture and trade.
There are currently 6.7 million hectares of oil palm plantations in the country -- half belonging to private firms, while the rest are operated by small-scale farmers. Only about 600,000 hectares are managed by state-owned enterprises.
Didiek estimated there were about seven million hectares of idle land across the country that could be used to plant oil palms or rubber trees.
He said the association's members had applied the so-called roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSOP), an international initiative promoting sustainability up and down the palm oil supply chain.
"But since many oil palm plantations are operated by farmers, many of them are still unaware about the RSOP regulations. It is the government's task to educate them," he said.
Indonesia's crude palm oil production reached its highest-ever level of 17.2 million tons last year, passing Malaysia, which produced 16 million tons.
Environmental activists have stepped up protests against the country's palm oil companies, accusing the firms of expanding their operations by clearing formerly forested land. The activists say the expansion, including in peatland forests, has killed thousands of orangutans and resulted in huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Didiek said the palm oil business in Indonesia dated back more than 150 years.
"There have been standard operating procedures in implementing good agriculture procedures since the Dutch period," he said.
"However, the booming of the commodity encourages the new planters to neglect these standard. This is the main cause of why land burning has become extensive and erosion has taken place."
Didiek said demand for crude palm oil had accelerated with the rising popularity of biofuels in developed nations to substitute for fossil fuels. He also called on the country's oil palm producers to do more for the environment and people's welfare.
"Conflict between food and fuels must be ended by taking all necessary actions to minimize negative impacts both to the local people and the international community," he said.
Jakarta Post May 13, 2008
Palm oil firms vow to stop using forests
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
Palm oil companies operating in Indonesia pledged to stop expanding plantations into forests in response to growing global criticism about deforestation and to promote more sustainable products.
Executive director of the Indonesian Palm Oil Association (GAPKI), Didiek Hadjar Goenadi, said here Monday palm oil companies would focus on utilizing idle land, including former forest concession areas, to maintain Indonesia as the world's largest crude palm oil producer.
"We realize the environmental impacts by opening all our forests so we will stop touching the forest and just concentrate on abundant lands which have not been cultivated yet," Didiek told reporters during a break in a a seminar on climate change, agriculture and trade.
There are currently 6.7 million hectares of oil palm plantations in the country -- half belonging to private firms, while the rest are operated by small-scale farmers. Only about 600,000 hectares are managed by state-owned enterprises.
Didiek estimated there were about seven million hectares of idle land across the country that could be used to plant oil palms or rubber trees.
He said the association's members had applied the so-called roundtable on sustainable palm oil (RSOP), an international initiative promoting sustainability up and down the palm oil supply chain.
"But since many oil palm plantations are operated by farmers, many of them are still unaware about the RSOP regulations. It is the government's task to educate them," he said.
Indonesia's crude palm oil production reached its highest-ever level of 17.2 million tons last year, passing Malaysia, which produced 16 million tons.
Environmental activists have stepped up protests against the country's palm oil companies, accusing the firms of expanding their operations by clearing formerly forested land. The activists say the expansion, including in peatland forests, has killed thousands of orangutans and resulted in huge amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.
Didiek said the palm oil business in Indonesia dated back more than 150 years.
"There have been standard operating procedures in implementing good agriculture procedures since the Dutch period," he said.
"However, the booming of the commodity encourages the new planters to neglect these standard. This is the main cause of why land burning has become extensive and erosion has taken place."
Didiek said demand for crude palm oil had accelerated with the rising popularity of biofuels in developed nations to substitute for fossil fuels. He also called on the country's oil palm producers to do more for the environment and people's welfare.
"Conflict between food and fuels must be ended by taking all necessary actions to minimize negative impacts both to the local people and the international community," he said.
PROTECTED AREAS USED TO EXPAND INDONESIAN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS
PROTECTED AREAS USED TO EXPAND INDONESIAN OIL PALM PLANTATIONS
Monday May 12, 2008,
JAKARTA, May 12 Asia Pulse -
The expansion of oil palm plantations in the regency of Kapuas Hulu in Indonesia's West Kalimantan has crossed the border into protected forests, the semi official news agency Antara reported.
Expansion has entered the 200,000 hectare Heart Of Borneo, which has been agreed to be preserved between three neighboring countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, said Haryono, the coordinator for forest Communication Issue of the World Wide Fund for Nature in West Kalimantan.
Nine subsidiaries of the Sinar Mas Group are believed to be involved in clearing 160,000 hectares of forests bordering the Betung Karihun National Park, Haryono said.
Kapuas Hulu has 1.63 million hectares of protected forests and National Parks.
By the end of 2007, West Kalimantan has 400,000 hectares of planted oil palm plantations said.
Monday May 12, 2008,
JAKARTA, May 12 Asia Pulse -
The expansion of oil palm plantations in the regency of Kapuas Hulu in Indonesia's West Kalimantan has crossed the border into protected forests, the semi official news agency Antara reported.
Expansion has entered the 200,000 hectare Heart Of Borneo, which has been agreed to be preserved between three neighboring countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, said Haryono, the coordinator for forest Communication Issue of the World Wide Fund for Nature in West Kalimantan.
Nine subsidiaries of the Sinar Mas Group are believed to be involved in clearing 160,000 hectares of forests bordering the Betung Karihun National Park, Haryono said.
Kapuas Hulu has 1.63 million hectares of protected forests and National Parks.
By the end of 2007, West Kalimantan has 400,000 hectares of planted oil palm plantations said.
Monday, 12 May 2008
Forest conversions stand: Ka'ban
So, the Minister of Forestry is telling the anti-corruption people there is no need for them to investigate forest conversion matters as he has personally approved them all. Hmmnn!!!!!!!
The anti-corruption body/office are appearing to have increasing success in what is a very difficult situation for them, so any guilty people will have cause for personal concern.
Jakarta Post
National News
May 12, 2008
Forest conversions stand: Ka'ban
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java
Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban has warned the corruption body not to intervene in the country's forest conversion processes, which have been tarnished by alleged bribery. Kaban said he welcomed the move by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate the alleged graft in the approval of the forest conversion in Bintan regency in Riau Islands province.
But he emphasized the probe could not overrule the decision to approve the conversion.
"The forest conversion is legitimate and is allowed by the law. I am responsible for changing the status of a forest, which falls under the government's authority," Kaban said after attending a graduation at Ibnu Khaldun University in Jakarta on Saturday.
The KPK has announced a plan to visit Bintan as part of its investigation into alleged bribery in the approval of the conversion of 200 out of 7,300 hectares of protected forest for an office complex project. The conversion was proposed as part of Bintan's development as the capital of Riau Islands province.
The commission has named House of Representatives lawmaker Al Amin Nasution and Bintan regional secretary Azirwan as suspects in the case.
The two were arrested hours after the House approved a recommendation from a forestry ministry team to convert the protected forest.
Kaban told the corruption commission to focus on the bribery case.
"If there is no problem with the conversion process, then say so, in order not to set off a public controversy," Kaban said.
Under the forestry law, the government can change forest use with the House's consent, following an integrated study. The government usually takes into consideration the wider, strategic benefits of the conversion.
As pointed out by Kaban, conversion of protected forests has been occurring since the administration of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, which issued a government regulation in lieu of law to allow 13 mining companies to operate in protected forests.
The House approved the emergency regulation, which resulted in the conversion of nearly 1 million hectares of protected forest.
Protected forests on Raja Ampat Island in West Papua, Wakatobi Island in Southeast Sulawesi and Tanjung Api-api in South Sumatra were also converted following the establishment of regencies there.
"I have referred to this long-standing practice to let the public know that forest conversion is legitimate," Kaban said.
He called on the public not to worry about forest conversions, as the country still has about 24.3 million hectares of protected forest.
"Forest conversion always requires that the forest area affected is replaced," he said.
A recent study by environmental group Greenomics found forest conversion in the country over the past eight years "has reached an alarming level", with 10 million hectares of protected forest vanishing.
The report warned the remaining protected forests would disappear in a short period, unless immediate action was taken to stop the practice.
The anti-corruption body/office are appearing to have increasing success in what is a very difficult situation for them, so any guilty people will have cause for personal concern.
Jakarta Post
National News
May 12, 2008
Forest conversions stand: Ka'ban
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor, West Java
Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban has warned the corruption body not to intervene in the country's forest conversion processes, which have been tarnished by alleged bribery. Kaban said he welcomed the move by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to investigate the alleged graft in the approval of the forest conversion in Bintan regency in Riau Islands province.
But he emphasized the probe could not overrule the decision to approve the conversion.
"The forest conversion is legitimate and is allowed by the law. I am responsible for changing the status of a forest, which falls under the government's authority," Kaban said after attending a graduation at Ibnu Khaldun University in Jakarta on Saturday.
The KPK has announced a plan to visit Bintan as part of its investigation into alleged bribery in the approval of the conversion of 200 out of 7,300 hectares of protected forest for an office complex project. The conversion was proposed as part of Bintan's development as the capital of Riau Islands province.
The commission has named House of Representatives lawmaker Al Amin Nasution and Bintan regional secretary Azirwan as suspects in the case.
The two were arrested hours after the House approved a recommendation from a forestry ministry team to convert the protected forest.
Kaban told the corruption commission to focus on the bribery case.
"If there is no problem with the conversion process, then say so, in order not to set off a public controversy," Kaban said.
Under the forestry law, the government can change forest use with the House's consent, following an integrated study. The government usually takes into consideration the wider, strategic benefits of the conversion.
As pointed out by Kaban, conversion of protected forests has been occurring since the administration of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, which issued a government regulation in lieu of law to allow 13 mining companies to operate in protected forests.
The House approved the emergency regulation, which resulted in the conversion of nearly 1 million hectares of protected forest.
Protected forests on Raja Ampat Island in West Papua, Wakatobi Island in Southeast Sulawesi and Tanjung Api-api in South Sumatra were also converted following the establishment of regencies there.
"I have referred to this long-standing practice to let the public know that forest conversion is legitimate," Kaban said.
He called on the public not to worry about forest conversions, as the country still has about 24.3 million hectares of protected forest.
"Forest conversion always requires that the forest area affected is replaced," he said.
A recent study by environmental group Greenomics found forest conversion in the country over the past eight years "has reached an alarming level", with 10 million hectares of protected forest vanishing.
The report warned the remaining protected forests would disappear in a short period, unless immediate action was taken to stop the practice.
MALAYSIA'S SITT TATT IN JV TO BUILD PALM OIL MILLS IN INDONESIA
MALAYSIA'S SITT TATT IN JV TO BUILD PALM OIL MILLS IN INDONESIA
Monday, May 12, 2008;
On May 9, STB Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Crestino to participate in the project by investing RM20.0 million.
The sum will be paid to Ithmaar Development Company Limited (IDC) to enable Crestino to fulfill the pre-condition for the approval in principle by IDC to finance the business, Sitt Tatt said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia on May 9.
On 25 May 2007, Crestino was awarded the rights to construct and manage 100 palm oil mills in Indonesia by PT Permodalan Nasional Madani Techno Venture (PNMTV).
PT Palm Mill Indo (PMI), which is 100 per cent owned by Crestino, was established in Indonesia to oversee the management of the palm oil mills.
PMI has entered into agreements with cooperative societies in Indonesia for the supply of fresh fruit bunches (FFB).
Crestino will establish a marketing/trading company in Singapore to handle the marketing and trading of the final products of the palm oil mills, the statement said.
Sitt Tatt said the investment in the project will provide the STB Group with the opportunity to participate in palm oil milling and related businesses in Indonesia, which offers growth prospects.
It also enables the group to substantially broaden its income base beyond its current manufacturing operations in Malaysia and Singapore and provide a steady income stream to the group.
Monday, May 12, 2008;
On May 9, STB Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Crestino to participate in the project by investing RM20.0 million.
The sum will be paid to Ithmaar Development Company Limited (IDC) to enable Crestino to fulfill the pre-condition for the approval in principle by IDC to finance the business, Sitt Tatt said in a statement to Bursa Malaysia on May 9.
On 25 May 2007, Crestino was awarded the rights to construct and manage 100 palm oil mills in Indonesia by PT Permodalan Nasional Madani Techno Venture (PNMTV).
PT Palm Mill Indo (PMI), which is 100 per cent owned by Crestino, was established in Indonesia to oversee the management of the palm oil mills.
PMI has entered into agreements with cooperative societies in Indonesia for the supply of fresh fruit bunches (FFB).
Crestino will establish a marketing/trading company in Singapore to handle the marketing and trading of the final products of the palm oil mills, the statement said.
Sitt Tatt said the investment in the project will provide the STB Group with the opportunity to participate in palm oil milling and related businesses in Indonesia, which offers growth prospects.
It also enables the group to substantially broaden its income base beyond its current manufacturing operations in Malaysia and Singapore and provide a steady income stream to the group.
PALM OIL DRIVES ORANG-UTAN TO EXTINCTION
PRESS RELEASE
May 7th 2008,
PALM OIL DRIVES ORANG-UTAN TO EXTINCTION
The Centre for Orang-utan Protection (COP) estimates that orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus wumbii) living outside the conservation area in Central Kalimantan will be extinct in 2-3 years. Forest destruction for palm oil and weak law enforcement are the main threats.
The province of Central Kalimantan is home to the biggest remaining orang-utan population in the world with 31,300 orang-utans in 2004 (“PHVA and revised PHVA” 2004, Wich, et al).
With a shrinking rate of 9% or 5,325 orang-utans per year, that number has now fallen to around 20,000. The clearing of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) is the result of the ambitions by the Indonesian government to become the world’s top palm oil producer and the endemic ignorance among palm oil producers. The Central Kalimantan provincial government in a revised draft of its land use planning proposed a conversion of 455,000 hectares of forest land with a majority to be dedicated for the expansion of palm oil plantations.
A field research carried out by The Centre for Orang-utan Protection showed that palm oil companies which are members of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) such as Wilmar, IOI and Agro Group continue to clear forests in which orang-utans become victims in the process, despite the fact that criteria 7.3 within RSPO prescribes that since November 2005, members are not to clear primary forests or areas with one or more than one high conservation value.
During 2006 The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Orang-utan Reintroduction Centre received 256 orang-utans freshly rescued from several palm oil plantations. The number fell to 93 in 2007 and so far until March 2008 15 orang-utans have been rescued. The reason for the fall in numbers is because the Orang-utan Reintroduction Centre in Nyaru Menteng has become much more selective in accepting rescued orang-utans. Only infant or severely injured orang-utans are taken in; the healthier and stronger ones are instantly placed in the nearest forest because of increasingly lack of space and capacity of the Centre.
Moving displaced orang-utans without rehabilitation and reintroduction is a bad choice and could lead to death. All orang-utans rescued from the PT. Agro Bukit concession in Sampit met their death after PT. Globalindo Alam Perkasa decided to clear the patch of forest land they were relocated to. The same thing took place in PT. Bumitama Gunakarya Agro’s concession area, subsidiary of Malaysian IOI group that operates in Antang Kalang sub-district in the East Kotawaringin Timur district.
One orang-utan rescued represents 2-10 killed others (Meijaard, E., Rijksen, H.D., and Kartikasari, S.N. 2001.” Di Ambang Kepunahan: Kondisi Orangutan Liar di Awal Abad ke-21”. Tropenbos, Gibbon Foundation). This means Central Kalimantan has lost 1,600-1,800 orang-utans, based on 600 orang-utans at the Nyaru Menteng Orang-utan Reintroduction Center and 200 orang-utans at the Orang-utan Care Centre in Pangkalan Bun.
The ironic part is although on paper orang-utans are one of the wild species protected by the National Law (UU No 5 /1990), the Forestry Ministry is helpless at protectiong orang-utans that live ouside the conservation areas. There is not a single case of orang-utan hunting, capture or killing on palm oil plantation concessions that have been brought to justice. As a result, the criminal and cruel practices against orang-utans outside conservation areas are not seen as a violations to the law and are condoned along with the continuing forest clearing – destruction of critical orang-utan habitat - done by palm oil companies.
The Centre for Orang-utan Protection urges the Indonesian government to stop forest destruction for palm oil in Central Kalimantan. The Forestry Ministry has to step up to be more proactive in protecting orang-utans and to include those living outside conservation areas.
NOVI HARDIANTO
Forest4 Program Manager. The Centre for Orangutan Protection
mobile 0819 817 911
email forest4@cop.or.id
Note to editors :
Borneo orang-utans are divided into 3 sub-soecies: Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, Pongo pygmaeus wumbii, Pongo pygmaeus morio.
The estimated number of wild orang-utans are as follows: Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus around 7500, Pongo pygmaeus wumbii around 46.250, Pongo pygmaeus morio around 4825. There are 58.575 in total in 2004, including the entire island of Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia). Data on orang-utan population is taken from the Population and Habitat Viability Assessment workshop in 2004 (PHVA 2004) revised by Wich et al.
May 7th 2008,
PALM OIL DRIVES ORANG-UTAN TO EXTINCTION
The Centre for Orang-utan Protection (COP) estimates that orang-utan (Pongo pygmaeus wumbii) living outside the conservation area in Central Kalimantan will be extinct in 2-3 years. Forest destruction for palm oil and weak law enforcement are the main threats.
The province of Central Kalimantan is home to the biggest remaining orang-utan population in the world with 31,300 orang-utans in 2004 (“PHVA and revised PHVA” 2004, Wich, et al).
With a shrinking rate of 9% or 5,325 orang-utans per year, that number has now fallen to around 20,000. The clearing of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF) is the result of the ambitions by the Indonesian government to become the world’s top palm oil producer and the endemic ignorance among palm oil producers. The Central Kalimantan provincial government in a revised draft of its land use planning proposed a conversion of 455,000 hectares of forest land with a majority to be dedicated for the expansion of palm oil plantations.
A field research carried out by The Centre for Orang-utan Protection showed that palm oil companies which are members of the Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) such as Wilmar, IOI and Agro Group continue to clear forests in which orang-utans become victims in the process, despite the fact that criteria 7.3 within RSPO prescribes that since November 2005, members are not to clear primary forests or areas with one or more than one high conservation value.
During 2006 The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation Orang-utan Reintroduction Centre received 256 orang-utans freshly rescued from several palm oil plantations. The number fell to 93 in 2007 and so far until March 2008 15 orang-utans have been rescued. The reason for the fall in numbers is because the Orang-utan Reintroduction Centre in Nyaru Menteng has become much more selective in accepting rescued orang-utans. Only infant or severely injured orang-utans are taken in; the healthier and stronger ones are instantly placed in the nearest forest because of increasingly lack of space and capacity of the Centre.
Moving displaced orang-utans without rehabilitation and reintroduction is a bad choice and could lead to death. All orang-utans rescued from the PT. Agro Bukit concession in Sampit met their death after PT. Globalindo Alam Perkasa decided to clear the patch of forest land they were relocated to. The same thing took place in PT. Bumitama Gunakarya Agro’s concession area, subsidiary of Malaysian IOI group that operates in Antang Kalang sub-district in the East Kotawaringin Timur district.
One orang-utan rescued represents 2-10 killed others (Meijaard, E., Rijksen, H.D., and Kartikasari, S.N. 2001.” Di Ambang Kepunahan: Kondisi Orangutan Liar di Awal Abad ke-21”. Tropenbos, Gibbon Foundation). This means Central Kalimantan has lost 1,600-1,800 orang-utans, based on 600 orang-utans at the Nyaru Menteng Orang-utan Reintroduction Center and 200 orang-utans at the Orang-utan Care Centre in Pangkalan Bun.
The ironic part is although on paper orang-utans are one of the wild species protected by the National Law (UU No 5 /1990), the Forestry Ministry is helpless at protectiong orang-utans that live ouside the conservation areas. There is not a single case of orang-utan hunting, capture or killing on palm oil plantation concessions that have been brought to justice. As a result, the criminal and cruel practices against orang-utans outside conservation areas are not seen as a violations to the law and are condoned along with the continuing forest clearing – destruction of critical orang-utan habitat - done by palm oil companies.
The Centre for Orang-utan Protection urges the Indonesian government to stop forest destruction for palm oil in Central Kalimantan. The Forestry Ministry has to step up to be more proactive in protecting orang-utans and to include those living outside conservation areas.
NOVI HARDIANTO
Forest4 Program Manager. The Centre for Orangutan Protection
mobile 0819 817 911
email forest4@cop.or.id
Note to editors :
Borneo orang-utans are divided into 3 sub-soecies: Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus, Pongo pygmaeus wumbii, Pongo pygmaeus morio.
The estimated number of wild orang-utans are as follows: Pongo pygmaeus pygmaeus around 7500, Pongo pygmaeus wumbii around 46.250, Pongo pygmaeus morio around 4825. There are 58.575 in total in 2004, including the entire island of Borneo (Indonesia and Malaysia). Data on orang-utan population is taken from the Population and Habitat Viability Assessment workshop in 2004 (PHVA 2004) revised by Wich et al.
Sunday, 11 May 2008
A Helping Hand
This is the last image in the series directly below this posting. Here we can see COP helping the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation secure the crate whilst being filmed by a New Zealand TV crew who were in Central Kalimantan at the time.
Saturday, 10 May 2008
Centre for Orangutan Protection - in Action
Last week the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) announced their new report detailing the shocking truth behind the orangutan killing in Central Borneo - it's much the same all over Borneo. For details please see the numerous press/media reports further down this page.
COP was launched only a year ago with the support of Nature Alert and it has already become Indonesia's leading organisation fearlessly fighting for the lives of orangutans and their forest homes.
Orangutan rescue
This series of photos show Hardi and the COP team negotiating with the palm oil employee (second from right) for the release of an approx. three year old orangutan recently orphaned when its mother was killed.
One photo shows the orangutan on the ground where its forest home once stood. Another photo
shows the orangutan in a temporary crate whilst waiting a short while for the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation to arrive and take this
orangutan to their excellent rescue centre.
Riau regent accused of stealing Rp 1.2t
Riau regent accused of stealing Rp 1.2t
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Sat, 05/10/2008 10:34 AM Headlines
The Corruption Court began Friday the graft trial of Pelalawan (Riau) Regent Tengku Azmun Jaafar who was accused of stealing Rp 1.2 trillion (US$130 million) in state funds.
In their indictment, state prosecutors accused the defendant of receiving money for issuing illegal authorization letters to 15 companies to utilize more than 120,000 hectares of forest resources in the regency.
Azmun issued the letters in December 2002 and January 2003 to the companies, seven of which were established by his relatives and cronies, prosecutors said.
None of these seven firms met the criteria necessary for forestry enterprises in terms of financial or technical qualifications.
The prosecutors, M. Rum, Riyono, Siswanto and Andi Suharlis, are charging Azmun with misusing authority for personal gain, which violates two articles of Law No. 31/1999 on Corruption Eradication. The crime carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Since the issuance of the letters, Azmun had received more than Rp 19 billion from the companies, prosecutors told the court. Azmun's brother, Tengku Lukman Jaafar, who was involved in establishing some of the companies in 2001, earned more than Rp 8 billion.
A total of Rp 840 million also went to three officials at Riau Forestry Agency, namely agency head Asral Rachman and deputy heads Fredrik Suli and Sudirno. The three were all allegedly involved in approving the procedural letters for the authorization.
The case also involved PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) general manager Rosman who is still at large.
Rosman was allegedly involved in the takeover of six of the seven companies belonging to Azmun's families and cronies by a subsidiary of RAPP, PT Persada Karya Sejati, soon after the permission letters were issued.
According to the prosecutors, RAPP gained more than Rp 930 billion from the exploitation of forest resources on the land it was indirectly allocated.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Azmun a suspect in August last year and has detained him since December.
Last month, KPK questioned Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban in connection with the case. Kaban said Azmun had misused the authorization letters which had been given the companies authorization to manage empty land, instead of protected forest.
KPK is currently handling at least three cases involving misuse of authority related to forest land management.
Lawmakers Al Amin Nasution and Sarjan Taher are two other suspects allegedly involved in separate illegal conversion of forest land in Bintan, Riau and Banyuasin, South Sumatra, respectively.
KPK Deputy Chairman Haryono Umar said Friday the anti-graft body would analyze whether there were any flaws in the forestry regulation which could have aided the graft.
"We will look deeper into the matter. If eventually we find problems in the regulation, we will fix it, soon," he said. (dre)
The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Sat, 05/10/2008 10:34 AM Headlines
The Corruption Court began Friday the graft trial of Pelalawan (Riau) Regent Tengku Azmun Jaafar who was accused of stealing Rp 1.2 trillion (US$130 million) in state funds.
In their indictment, state prosecutors accused the defendant of receiving money for issuing illegal authorization letters to 15 companies to utilize more than 120,000 hectares of forest resources in the regency.
Azmun issued the letters in December 2002 and January 2003 to the companies, seven of which were established by his relatives and cronies, prosecutors said.
None of these seven firms met the criteria necessary for forestry enterprises in terms of financial or technical qualifications.
The prosecutors, M. Rum, Riyono, Siswanto and Andi Suharlis, are charging Azmun with misusing authority for personal gain, which violates two articles of Law No. 31/1999 on Corruption Eradication. The crime carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Since the issuance of the letters, Azmun had received more than Rp 19 billion from the companies, prosecutors told the court. Azmun's brother, Tengku Lukman Jaafar, who was involved in establishing some of the companies in 2001, earned more than Rp 8 billion.
A total of Rp 840 million also went to three officials at Riau Forestry Agency, namely agency head Asral Rachman and deputy heads Fredrik Suli and Sudirno. The three were all allegedly involved in approving the procedural letters for the authorization.
The case also involved PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) general manager Rosman who is still at large.
Rosman was allegedly involved in the takeover of six of the seven companies belonging to Azmun's families and cronies by a subsidiary of RAPP, PT Persada Karya Sejati, soon after the permission letters were issued.
According to the prosecutors, RAPP gained more than Rp 930 billion from the exploitation of forest resources on the land it was indirectly allocated.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Azmun a suspect in August last year and has detained him since December.
Last month, KPK questioned Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban in connection with the case. Kaban said Azmun had misused the authorization letters which had been given the companies authorization to manage empty land, instead of protected forest.
KPK is currently handling at least three cases involving misuse of authority related to forest land management.
Lawmakers Al Amin Nasution and Sarjan Taher are two other suspects allegedly involved in separate illegal conversion of forest land in Bintan, Riau and Banyuasin, South Sumatra, respectively.
KPK Deputy Chairman Haryono Umar said Friday the anti-graft body would analyze whether there were any flaws in the forestry regulation which could have aided the graft.
"We will look deeper into the matter. If eventually we find problems in the regulation, we will fix it, soon," he said. (dre)
Businessmen admits paying Batam authorities to use forest land
Businessmen admits paying Batam authorities to use forest land
Fadli , The Jakarta Post , Batam Sat, 05/10/2008 10:34 AM The Archipelago
A businessman says he obtained a license to use protected forest land in Batam by depositing money into a bank account owned by the Batam Industrial Development Authorities (BIDA) Abidin, chairman of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) provincial chapter, confessed to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday.
The KPK have questioned a number of local officials over the conversion of Baloi protected forest into a business center in Batam.
The KPK asked a number of businesspeople, who obtained licenses to use the land, for statements, Abidin said.
Abidin said he was not interrogated by the KPK.
"I was asked by KPK," he said. "I didn't know it was a protected forest. After depositing a sum of money, I realized I couldn't develop the land."
Abidin said he applied to BIDA for a 10-hectare plot in 2003 on behalf of his company. BDA approved 5 hectares in 2004.
Since 2004, he has deposited a compulsory tax of Rp 2.5 billion (approximately US$277,000) annually.
"However, since I was unable to develop the land until now, I want to ask for a refund," said Abidin.
He planned to build a shopping mall on the plot, which is located in the heart of Batam city. However, he shelved his plan after the dispute.
"As far as I know, every businessman who received land in the Baloi Dam area has been asked for statements from KPK, but I couldn't tell you who they are," said Abidin.
Agussahim, who has twice been summoned, refused to comment. He was head of the provincial revenue office during between 2002 and 2006.
The Baloi dam forest preserve in the city center of Batam spans 109 hectares. The dam in the preserve has a 200,000 cubic-meter capacity and is the city's source of clean water. The preserve was closed in 2004 to be converted into a commercial area.
The change in land use procedures was submitted to the Forestry Ministry in 2003. Despite an approval from the forestry minister, BIDA and Batam municipality transferred the land rights to a number of businesspeople.
The land use rights on Batam Island and its surroundings are in the hands of BIDA, based on a home affairs ministerial decree.
According to a source close to BIDA, Batam municipality looked forward to allocating land strategically with the inception of regional autonomy. This is the reason behind their endorsement of the land conversion at Baloi, the source said.
The annual compulsory fee was set at Rp 51,750 per meter. Therefore, the total funds collected -- assuming all the businessmen deposited funds to BIDA -- would amount to Rp 56 billion.
Fadli , The Jakarta Post , Batam Sat, 05/10/2008 10:34 AM The Archipelago
A businessman says he obtained a license to use protected forest land in Batam by depositing money into a bank account owned by the Batam Industrial Development Authorities (BIDA) Abidin, chairman of the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) provincial chapter, confessed to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Thursday.
The KPK have questioned a number of local officials over the conversion of Baloi protected forest into a business center in Batam.
The KPK asked a number of businesspeople, who obtained licenses to use the land, for statements, Abidin said.
Abidin said he was not interrogated by the KPK.
"I was asked by KPK," he said. "I didn't know it was a protected forest. After depositing a sum of money, I realized I couldn't develop the land."
Abidin said he applied to BIDA for a 10-hectare plot in 2003 on behalf of his company. BDA approved 5 hectares in 2004.
Since 2004, he has deposited a compulsory tax of Rp 2.5 billion (approximately US$277,000) annually.
"However, since I was unable to develop the land until now, I want to ask for a refund," said Abidin.
He planned to build a shopping mall on the plot, which is located in the heart of Batam city. However, he shelved his plan after the dispute.
"As far as I know, every businessman who received land in the Baloi Dam area has been asked for statements from KPK, but I couldn't tell you who they are," said Abidin.
Agussahim, who has twice been summoned, refused to comment. He was head of the provincial revenue office during between 2002 and 2006.
The Baloi dam forest preserve in the city center of Batam spans 109 hectares. The dam in the preserve has a 200,000 cubic-meter capacity and is the city's source of clean water. The preserve was closed in 2004 to be converted into a commercial area.
The change in land use procedures was submitted to the Forestry Ministry in 2003. Despite an approval from the forestry minister, BIDA and Batam municipality transferred the land rights to a number of businesspeople.
The land use rights on Batam Island and its surroundings are in the hands of BIDA, based on a home affairs ministerial decree.
According to a source close to BIDA, Batam municipality looked forward to allocating land strategically with the inception of regional autonomy. This is the reason behind their endorsement of the land conversion at Baloi, the source said.
The annual compulsory fee was set at Rp 51,750 per meter. Therefore, the total funds collected -- assuming all the businessmen deposited funds to BIDA -- would amount to Rp 56 billion.
Lawmaker grilled in forest graft case
Lawmaker grilled in forest graft case
Sat, 05/10/2008 10:34 AM National
JAKARTA: The graft body summoned lawmaker I Made Urip of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle on Friday in relation to an allegedly illegal forest conversion in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Urip about the decision-making process for granting permission for a forest conversion.
"I was questioned as a witness in the case involving Sarjan Taher," Urip said.
Urip has denied involvement in the case.
Last week, the KPK arrested Sarjan, another member of the House of Representatives' Commission IV for forestry and agriculture, as a suspect in the same case, which centers on the conversion of a mangrove forest into a seaport. --JP
Sat, 05/10/2008 10:34 AM National
JAKARTA: The graft body summoned lawmaker I Made Urip of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle on Friday in relation to an allegedly illegal forest conversion in Banyuasin, South Sumatra.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Urip about the decision-making process for granting permission for a forest conversion.
"I was questioned as a witness in the case involving Sarjan Taher," Urip said.
Urip has denied involvement in the case.
Last week, the KPK arrested Sarjan, another member of the House of Representatives' Commission IV for forestry and agriculture, as a suspect in the same case, which centers on the conversion of a mangrove forest into a seaport. --JP
RI forest conversions alarming: Greenomics
RI forest conversions alarming: Greenomics
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta May 9
Forest conversion has reached an alarming level in Indonesia with more than 10 million hectares of protected forest converted for business use since the inception of regional autonomy in 2000, a study says.
The study, conducted by the Greenomics Indonesia environmental group, found most regional spatial plans do not aim to protect forests.
"In fact, some existing spatial planning ... expedites forest conversions," Greenomics executive director Elfian Effendi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
"The area of converted forest now exceeds 158 times the size of Singapore."
Indonesia is the world's third-largest forestry country, with over 120 million hectares of rainforest.
The government has set aside about 40 million hectares for both protected and conservation forests, where plantation, agriculture or logging activities are not allowed.
"However, as forest conversion remains common practice, only 30 million hectares of protected forest are now left. They will disappear in the short term unless the government takes actions to stop forest conversion," Elfian said.
The issue of forest conversion made the headlines when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested lawmaker Al Amin Nasution for allegedly accepting a bribe to facilitate the approval for forest to be converted on Bintan Island, Riau, last month.
The Bintan administration requested the government's permit through the House of Representatives to convert around 200 hectares of a 7,300-hectare protected forest for an office complex project.
The Greenomics study found that in the last two years alone, there were at least 40 cases where forest land was converted into plantations and agricultural land, covering about 195,000 hectares of protected forest.
Greenomics found some 327,000 hectares of its protected forest has been converted under forest concessions in North Sumatra, while in Aceh about 160,000 hectares of protected forest was turned into plantation and agricultural areas.
According to the study, about 143,000 hectares of protected forest has illegally been converted for plantations and agricultural land in Riau province.
The Greenomics also said the West Kalimantan administration had failed to save its protected forests.
"About 286,000 hectares of protected forest there has been converted into agricultural estates," he said.
In Central Kalimantan, about 225,000 hectares of protected forest has been converted into plantations.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should put an end to forest conversion by setting up a national team to determine whether regional spatial planning undermines or sustains protected and conservation forests, Greenomics said.
"We learned that only about 40 percent of spatial planning is aimed at saving protected forest in the country," he said.
"But, the forestry ministry seem powerless to handle the problem."
The Greenomics also supports ongoing moves by the KPK to resolve forest corruption cases.
Law enforcement against forest conversion practices should be simple because any business activity in the protected forests is illegal, he said.
"The KPK and police should find it easy to investigate forest conversion cases since perpetrators can't obtain a license to convert protected forests," he said.
Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta May 9
Forest conversion has reached an alarming level in Indonesia with more than 10 million hectares of protected forest converted for business use since the inception of regional autonomy in 2000, a study says.
The study, conducted by the Greenomics Indonesia environmental group, found most regional spatial plans do not aim to protect forests.
"In fact, some existing spatial planning ... expedites forest conversions," Greenomics executive director Elfian Effendi told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.
"The area of converted forest now exceeds 158 times the size of Singapore."
Indonesia is the world's third-largest forestry country, with over 120 million hectares of rainforest.
The government has set aside about 40 million hectares for both protected and conservation forests, where plantation, agriculture or logging activities are not allowed.
"However, as forest conversion remains common practice, only 30 million hectares of protected forest are now left. They will disappear in the short term unless the government takes actions to stop forest conversion," Elfian said.
The issue of forest conversion made the headlines when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested lawmaker Al Amin Nasution for allegedly accepting a bribe to facilitate the approval for forest to be converted on Bintan Island, Riau, last month.
The Bintan administration requested the government's permit through the House of Representatives to convert around 200 hectares of a 7,300-hectare protected forest for an office complex project.
The Greenomics study found that in the last two years alone, there were at least 40 cases where forest land was converted into plantations and agricultural land, covering about 195,000 hectares of protected forest.
Greenomics found some 327,000 hectares of its protected forest has been converted under forest concessions in North Sumatra, while in Aceh about 160,000 hectares of protected forest was turned into plantation and agricultural areas.
According to the study, about 143,000 hectares of protected forest has illegally been converted for plantations and agricultural land in Riau province.
The Greenomics also said the West Kalimantan administration had failed to save its protected forests.
"About 286,000 hectares of protected forest there has been converted into agricultural estates," he said.
In Central Kalimantan, about 225,000 hectares of protected forest has been converted into plantations.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should put an end to forest conversion by setting up a national team to determine whether regional spatial planning undermines or sustains protected and conservation forests, Greenomics said.
"We learned that only about 40 percent of spatial planning is aimed at saving protected forest in the country," he said.
"But, the forestry ministry seem powerless to handle the problem."
The Greenomics also supports ongoing moves by the KPK to resolve forest corruption cases.
Law enforcement against forest conversion practices should be simple because any business activity in the protected forests is illegal, he said.
"The KPK and police should find it easy to investigate forest conversion cases since perpetrators can't obtain a license to convert protected forests," he said.
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