The
government must give assurance that the international world, especially the
European Union, could accept Wood Legality Verification System (SVLK)
certificate as a forest management instrument approaching the mandatory
application of the regulation at the end of this year. “The assurance must be
of international scale to show government’s reputation. If this can be applied,
SVLK application could expand Indonesia’s export market”, said Chairman of
Indonesian Pulp and Paper Association (APKI), Misbahul Huda. He also reminded
the government to consider providing incentive for concession and SVLK
certificate holders.
This is because concession holders
are committed to apply sustainable management, and the cost for obtaining certification
is uncheap”, he said. Huda is in the opinion that incentive could be in the
form of legal assurance on land certainty and dispute with the community around
concession area and government’s support in facing black campaign launched by
foreign non-governmental institutions (NGO). “So, the problem is not merely
about illegal timber, but also about clear and clear land area as well as
anticipation of black campaign launched by NGO who brings foreign trade
mission”, Huda said. Huda admitted that so far, Indonesia’s export market,
especially pulp market, has been decreasing, especially due to black campaign
launched by foreign NGO.
While, in fact, Huda said,
Indonesia’s potency to broaden export market for pulp and paper is high.
Concerning market expansion, President Director of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and
Paper (RAPP), Kusnan Rahmin, predicted that demand for pulp and paper globally
will continue to increase until 2015. “The growth will be accelerated by
increase of demand in several countries, especially in China and India”, Kusnan
said.
The satisfactory growth in pulp and
paper demand, Kusnan said, will open an opportunity for Indonesia to become a
global player by still prioritizing sustainable forest management, including
focusing on analysis of High Conservation Value (NKT). “We have conducted NKT
analysis since 2005”, said Kusnan. Kusnan added that RAPP has obtained SVLK
certificate and Sustainable Production Forest Management (PHPL) certificate on
plantation forest that has been managed by the company since 2010. Both
certifications have proven that wood originating from plantation forest managed
by RAPP is not only legal or valid, but it also originates from plantation
forest managed sustainably”, Kusnan said.
Bambang Hendroyono, Director General
of Forestry Business Development at the Forestry Ministry, said that SVLK was
born because in certain period, illegal logging and trade of illegal timber is
highly rampant so that foreign image about forest management in Indonesia is
very bad. This is due to low welfare of the communities around the forests.
This condition also causes competitiveness of Indonesia’s foreign products to
become low. On the other hand, the international trend is proof of wood
legality.
SVLK is a soft approach to illegal
logging and illegal trade. It is a verification system arranged by multi
stakeholders to ensure legality of source of wood circulating and traded in
Indonesia. With SVLK, all government regulations concerning wood trading are
implemented. SVLK proves that wood and wood products produced are derived from
valid sources. Indonesia’s forestry administration is also improved.
Competitiveness of Indonesia’s wood products is also improved. Illegal logging
and illegal trading practices are minimized and community’s income is improved.
SLVK is the only wood legality
verification system applicable in Indonesia. The benefit of holder of SVLK
certificate is that he or she released from inspections that generate high-cost
economy. SVLK’s principle is good management practices, representedness, and
openness. Every timber that has obtained SVLK certification will receive a
V-legal mark, Currently, it is still on trial stage, and it will be fully
implemented in 2013.
Business
News - September 7, 2012
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