Controversy over mining areas on protected forests continue

The controversy over the use of protected forests for mining purposes continue. The Ministry of Mines and Energy want the new law, which restricts the mining activities on the protected forests to be amended but the Ministry of Forestry opposes the plan. The following are excerpts taken from an interview with Secretary General of Forestry Minsitry Wahjudi Wardojo.

Question: What is the main reason why the Ministry of Forestry bans open-mining areas in the protected forests?

Answer: Under the Forestry Law No. 41/1999, mining operations are prohibited on any forms of protected forests, and if companies carried out such activities, they violate the law. That?s the reason why Minister of Forestry M. Prakoso would not allow mining activities on the protected forests although they involved large investments.

Q: Can you elaborate?

A: The ban is stipulated on the article 19 of the new forestry law. It clearly states that the change in forestry function should be stated by the government based on a comprehensive survey. The change which could bring a wide impact and has a strategic value should be determined by the government with the approval of the House of Representatives.

Q: So, how about open-mining activities which have received government licenses?

A: The government will reevaluate the licenses, which were issued before the law was introduced. If the mining projects are located in a protected forest, they should be stopped. For this purpose, the government has formed an inter-ministerial team. The team is now doing their works to identify hundreds of forestry areas.

Q: According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the new law affects at l50 mining projects. How to secure them?

A: The Ministry Forestry?s consideration is based on a long-term benefit. That?s why we oppose any mining projects that are developed in protected forests to ensure the sustainability of the forests. Every thing, which would threaten the ecosystem, would be rejected.

Q: How serious the damages on the forests?

A: The destruction on our forests has reached a critical level. According to data, the forestry area in the country reaches 108,57 million hectares. Of the total, protected forests cover 29.04 million hectares, forest conservation areas (21.82 million hectares), forest with special function (0.007 million hectares), production forests (44.03 million hectares), and the forests which could be converted into production forests (13.57 million hectares). Based on the latest data, about 1.6 million hectares of forest areas have been damaged. (*)