Forestry Minister Warns District Heads Not To Recommend Permit Extensions

Pekanbaru, Riau, (Antarariau.com) - Forestry Minister, Zulkifli Hasan, has warned all district heads in Riau province not to recommend the extension of forest concession permits in the province.

"Several forest concession permits have expired. Give priority to the Riau community to manage the forests," he said in his address marking the 57th anniversary of Riau province here on Saturday.

The minister, who will end his term of office one and a half months from now, asked district heads in Riau to make a recommendation to the Forestry Ministry for the management of forested land in the province.

"The recommendations from the governor and district heads on the development of smallholder timber estates, public forests and village forests for customary institutions are important to create justice," he said.

It was not fair that foreign investors controlled tens of thousands of hectares of forests in Riau province, while the local people had no land, he said.

The provincial government had decided not to extend the permits of two forest concessionaires after fires ravaged the forests in the 2,398-hectare Giam Siak Kecil biosphere reserve in Riau early this year.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB), 21,914 hectares of land and forest caught fire in the province early 2014.

UNESCO declared Giam Siak Kecil-Bukit Batu nature conservation area as biosphere reserve in 2009 at the initiative of Sinar Mas Group.

"I will not extend the permits of two forest concessionaires in the biosphere reserve. I am delighted to hear the forestry minister s explanation to give the permits to the local people as the best solution," Riau Governor, Annas Maamun, said this week.