Questions raised over plantation project

[Guest guest]

Questions raised over plantation project

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government's proposal to turn over 1.8 million hectares to oil palm

cultivation in Kalimantan is not economically feasible, with only 10 percent of

the land actually suitable for growing oil palms, a government official says.

The proposal has already drawn fierce criticism from environmentalists.

The Agriculture Ministry's director of plantations, Ahmad Dimyati, said

Tuesday most of the planned plantation land lay at elevations of higher than 400

meters and was hilly, making it impossible to plant oil palms.

" Oil palm plantations on higher ground are less productive, " he told a seminar

on oil palm cultivation, adding that rubber and cocoa plantations would be more

appropriate in such areas.

His remarks should add weight to accusations the project is nothing more than

a ruse to fell huge numbers of trees at the land clearance stage for short-term

gain.

Moreover, Ahmad said, most of the land involved was located in conservation

areas, meaning the government had to abide by international rules on forest

conservation and plantations. These rules require the establishment of

plantations must not damage the environment, conservation areas, flora and

fauna, or water resources.

Rudi R. Lamuru, the executive director of Sawit Watch -- an NGO that monitors

the oil palm plantation sector -- said many firms came to Kalimantan ostensibly

to establish oil palm plantations, but in reality all they were after was the

timber obtained during land clearance.

After the timber is harvested they disappear, leaving vast areas of denuded

land in their wake.

West Kalimantan reported recently that 1.5 million hectares of land allocated

for oil palm plantations in the province were lying idle last year, while

another 400,000 hectares were lying idle in East Kalimantan.

The proposed plantation project is located along the West Kalimantan-East

Kalimantan border.

Economist Faisal Basri, who also attended the seminar, said the project would

produce little in the way of economic benefit, and was a sign the government was

bowing to pressure from investors who were asking for a payback in return for

financing infrastructure projects. (06)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailbusiness.asp?fileid=20060125.L03 & irec=1

 

 

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