Minister wants new definition of conservation forests

A cabinet minister specially dealing with the development of eastern provinces Thursday called on several ministries to jointly define conservation forests, Detik.com news website reported.

Coarse grasses, and not trees, cover most mining concession areas in eastern Indonesia so that they can not be categorized as conservation forests, said Manuel Kasiepo, state minister for the acceleration of the development of eastern provinces, told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar in Jakarta.

?Ministries in charge of energy and mineral resources, forestry and environment should formulate a common definition of conservation and protected forests,? Manuel was quoted as saying.

The current forestry law, Law No. 41/1999, bans open pit mining in conservation forest areas. Implementation of the law, which was issued in 1999, caused suspension of many mining projects in eastern provinces including Maluku and Papua. The suspended projects including PT. Weda Bay nickel project in Halmahera, North Maluku and BHP Billitons? Nickel project in Gag Island in Papua.

Manuel said that mining operations in Halmahera Island and Gag Island could contribute significantly to regions? development. (*)