Limited coal mining should be allowed in Tenggarong forest conservation area: experts

A limited coal mining activity should be allowed in the so-called Soeharto forest conservation area in Tenggarong, East Kalimantan, to help avoid forest fire, a weekend seminar here on the use of the forest area concluded.

But the coal mining activity should only be limited to the forest area where the trees had already been cut down, the local Kaltim Post daily reported on Monday.

The coal mining activity should be awarded to a respectable coal mining firm with high commitment in protecting the environment.

The seminar was participated by high profile forestry and mining experts, government officials, and legislators.

Other recommendations from the seminar included the proposal to change the name of the 60 million hectare site into Bukit Kutai Kertanegara Ing Martadipura from its current name Soeharto forest conservation area. Soeharto was the country former authoritarian president.

The seminar also urged the local Kutai Kertanegara regent administration to lobby the central government in Jakarta to obtain the rights in managing the forest area.(*)