Coal haul road threatens forest restoration project in Jambi

The planned construction of a coal haul road is threatening the existence of a forestry restoration project carried out by PT Restorasi Ekosistim located at the border areas of Jambi and South Sumatra, Kompas reported on Monday.

Urip Wiharjo, the head of the forest protection division of PT Restorasi Ekosistim, said in Jambi on Sunday that the construction of the 45-km haul road threatened the ecosystem in the 98,000 hectare restoration project at the borders of the two provinces.

?We have formally sent a letter to the forestry ministry to protest the construction of the road. However, no response has so far been received from the ministry,? he said, adding that the construction of the road would seriously damage the vegetation on the primary forest in the forest restoration project.

According to him, the construction of the road is against the government?s regulation No. 11/2013 on the use of productive forests.

Urip said that the forest restoration project carried by the company would be affected if the government allowed the construction of the coal road. ?At least 154 hectares of vegetation would be destroyed if the road is built in the area,? he said. (*)