120,000 hectares Papua’s Primary Forest Conversion Must be Stopped

Posted on Mar 23, 2010

Executive Director of Greenomics Indonesia Elfian Effendy stated on Saturday that permission issued by the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry regarding a conversion of some 120,000 hectare of primary forest in Merauke, Papua needs to be revoked.

papua primary forest is converted into production forest

Papuas Primary Forest Is Converted Into Production Forest

The decree allows conversion of primary forest, which supports variety of wildlife some of which are on endangered species list, into an industrial forest mainly for the pulp and paper industry. The clearing will effectively destroy at least 15 million cubic meter of timber.

This policy contradicts statement given by the Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last December at the Copenhagen Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. In that world forum the President talks about carbon reduction targets some of which will be achieved by using forest as carbon sinks.

Greenomics Indonesia, which is an institute devoted to support good natural resources governance, Elfian said, strongly condemn permission which was granted in 2008 with a broad area of 206,800 hectares. “From the total area under the permit of 206,800 hectares, only 56,104 hectares are were vacant land, grasslands, and shrubs,” said Elfian.

Most of that area, which is around 150,696 hectares, is primary natural forests land. Of these 150,696 hectares, some 23,774 hectares are exempted because assessed as wildlife corridor area. But the rest of the area, some 120,939 hectares of primary forests allowed to be converted to industrial plantation.

Elfian urge Zulkifli Hasan the current Indonesian Minister of Forestry to review the forest licensing on primary forests and revoke it immediately.

In Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Nordin, Executive Director of Save Our Borneo (SOB), said that deforestation for the timber industry or forest conversion for oil palm plantations and coal mining not only damage the environment, but have caused state losses of more than Rp 119,9 billion (USD 12 million). These losses incurred from unpaid royalty from Forestry and Timber Usage Rights by various companies.