Govt plans to extend forest moratorium

By Bambang Atmaja

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said that he agreed on the mounting call for extending forest moratorium that would ban the conversion of certain forest areas for business purposes, including for mining.

"The existing forest moratorium is to expire on May. I agree that it (the moratorium) is to be extended," Zukkifli told Petromindo.com at the State Palace.

He said that there would not be any changes in terms of the to total area of forest for the moratorium purposes.

He also insisted that the decision on forest moratorium was purely made by Indonesian government and has no link with other country.

Under the moratorium, the government would not give permits for the conversion of peat land, primary and protected forest areas to be converted for other purposes, he said.

Editing by Adianto P. Simamora