INDONESIA: Concessionaires Must Have Forest Conservation Certificate in 2003 - President
Copyright 2001 Antara - The Indonesian National News Agency
December 3, 2001
Jakarta, Dec 3 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri has decided that forest concessionaires must obtain forest conservation certificates starting 2003, Forestry Minister M Prakosa said Monday.
"IF A COMPANY DOES NOT POSSESS THE CERTIFICATE, ITS CONCESSION WILL NOT BE EXTENDED," PRAKOSA SAID AFTER MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT AT THE STATE palace in Jakarta. The certificate, he said, will be issued by the Indonesian colabelling Institution.
The forest conservation certificate will only be given to forest concessionaires who can give evidence of their commitment to forest conservation, he said, adding that the government has so far issued 375 concessions.
The minister said he and the president had also discussed illegal tree-felling and timber smuggling.
Prakosa did not elaborate on these but said he will announce the result of a police investigation on timber smuggling.