The Association of
Indonesian Forest Managers, Industrial Forest Plantation Division supported
effort of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Forestry to foster partnership
between HTI companies and the public, but the obligation to save 10% of land
for partnership must be reviewed. Nana Suparna, Head of APHI in HTI made this
statement.
To look at companies which were obliged to share 20% of
land in partnership as an example was not right. Plantation companies worked on
the basis of Business Utility Right (HGU) so they did not fully manage the land
and could use the land as credit guarantee. As with HTI, the basic right was
still in the Government’s hand. Businesspeople had the right over the plants
but not the land.
The Government must never think that once they allocated
20% partnership there would be no conflict with the people. The root of dispute
was more complex than just partnership allocation so it was no guarantee there
would be no conflict. The main problem of HTI companies was that there was no
certainty of land ownership and poor legitimation of forest areas.
Data of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and
Forestry had it that total area of productive forest in Indonesia was 66.2
million hectares. Of the total area 34.3 million Ha had been given permit;
meaning there was still 34 million not being given permit and advisably this
part of land was open for access to the public, thereby the public had broader
access instead of relying on HTI Partner ship which was only 10 million ha.
Today most of HTI companies were not in operation due to
poor financial back up, low log price and many illegal collections.
Nana asked the Government to support HTI operators
whereby they could operate well today HTI must run the economic, social and
environmental role the balanced way. (SS)
Business News - February 25, 2015
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