ID :
18706
Tue, 09/09/2008 - 23:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/18706
The shortlink copeid
WALHI OPPOSES REOPENING OF POSSIBILITY TO OPEN HTIs IN NAD
Banda Aceh, Sept 9 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) opposes the reopening of the possibility for companies to obtain Industrial Crop Forest (HTI) licenses in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam as it contradicts the provincial administration's moratorium on forest logging, a spokesman said.
The policy will benefit capital owners and big business but negate the community's rights to manage forests, WALHI's campaign and advocacy manager for Aceh, Basyuni, said here Tuesday.
He was commenting on the issuance of a NAD governor's recommendation last July 15 on a plan of PT Rencong Pulp and Paper Industry to open a 160,000-ha industrial crop forest (HTI) in the Bener Meriah forest area.
The recommendation was a blatant violation of the NAD provincial administration's policy of declaring a moratorium on logging and a setback in the efforts to manage NAD's forests in a sustainable way, he said.
Therefore, Basyuni said, WALHI would urge the provincial government to revoke the governor's recommendation.
He warned the NAD government that in the future it should not give a forest management recommendation to any party in haste because it would have bad consequences for the conservation of Aceh's environment.
Aceh's forests were a valuable asset that should be managed well for the benefit of the region's society, he said.
Consequently, he suggested that Aceh should restore the community-based system in the management of its forests, instead of inviting profit-seeking capital owners to do the job.
The policy will benefit capital owners and big business but negate the community's rights to manage forests, WALHI's campaign and advocacy manager for Aceh, Basyuni, said here Tuesday.
He was commenting on the issuance of a NAD governor's recommendation last July 15 on a plan of PT Rencong Pulp and Paper Industry to open a 160,000-ha industrial crop forest (HTI) in the Bener Meriah forest area.
The recommendation was a blatant violation of the NAD provincial administration's policy of declaring a moratorium on logging and a setback in the efforts to manage NAD's forests in a sustainable way, he said.
Therefore, Basyuni said, WALHI would urge the provincial government to revoke the governor's recommendation.
He warned the NAD government that in the future it should not give a forest management recommendation to any party in haste because it would have bad consequences for the conservation of Aceh's environment.
Aceh's forests were a valuable asset that should be managed well for the benefit of the region's society, he said.
Consequently, he suggested that Aceh should restore the community-based system in the management of its forests, instead of inviting profit-seeking capital owners to do the job.
