Common perception of protected forest required

The government and the House of Representatives are trying to formulate a common understanding of protected forest before deciding whether or not mining concession holders could go ahead with their projects in protected forest areas, a government official told Petromindo.com on Thursday.

TA Nur Winakun, head of the law and public relations affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, said such common perception is necessary for the government and the House to decide in their hearing sessions the future of the projects.

"The House commissions will hold plenary hearing sessions with the government only after the two sides have reached common perception of protected forest," Nur said.

A group of legislators from House commission III and commission VIII which respectively deal with forestry affairs and mining issues on Wednesday discussed the issue with Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Forestry Minister M. Prakosa. Other senior ministry officials also attended the discussion.

They exchanged views about possible legal breakthroughs for investors affected by a law issued in 1999; Law No. 41/1999, so as to enable them to proceed with their mining programs. The law prohibits mining activities in protected forest areas. The minister of forestry enforced the law only recently.

The two commissions had planned to jointly hold plenary hearing sessions with the government so as to deliberate proposals initiated by participants in Wednesday?s meeting.

The government had licensed 150 mining projects in protected and conservation forest areas in different parts of the country prior to the issuance of Law No.41/1999, and if the law is not amended, they might be suspended. (Godang)