Local govts reject new regulation on protected forest rent

A number of governors, regents and mayors have rejected the central government's new regulation allowing investors to rent protected forests for business purposes including mining, Kompas reported Friday.

"We will never issue any recommendation to use a protected forest for mining activities," South Kalimantan Governor Ruddy Arifin said.

The head of the province's forestry office, Suhardi Atmorejo, said that a number of investors had applied for a permit to rent protected forest areas for mining activities. "But we will not give any recommendation to them," he added.

Central Kalimantan Governor Agustin Teras Narang is also opposed the regulation, saying that he would also not allow the use of protected forests for business activities.

"Forest conservation areas should be protected," he said.

Ridwan Sawidi, the regent of Pasir regency in East Kalimantan, also strongly rejected the regulation, saying that there would not be any compromise in the use of protected forests for business purposes.

He said that the Pasir administration was committed to allocating 70 percent of the regency's territory as forest conservation areas.

East Kalimantan's Tarakan Mayor Jusuf Serang Kasim insisted the regulation would threaten the existence of the town's protected forsts. ?We shall protect (the protected forests) all out. If the forests are damaged, it is us who shall directly face the consequence,? he said.

Under the Governmental Regulation No: 2/2008, which was signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Feb. 4, investors can rent productive and protected forests for business activities such as mining, oil and gas and geothermal.

Meanwhile, The Ministry of Forestry has permitted three mining companies to operate in protected forest areas with compensation in line with the governmental regulation.

The three companies are coal mining firm PT Indominco Mandiri in East Kalimantan, nickel mining firm PT Aneka Tambang in North Maluku and gold mining company PT Natarang Mining in North Maluku, Head of the ministry's Planology Board Yetti Rusli said on Thursday.(*)