"Vital" Infrastructure Projects - Like Toll Roads - Will Be Allowed In Protected Indonesian Forests

[hatrack]

JAKARTA - Indonesia will allow some infrastructure projects deemed in the public interest such as toll roads and geothermal energy plants to operate in protected forests, the chief economics minister said on Wednesday.

Under Indonesian law it is currently forbidden to undertake any kind of activity that could impact on a forest conservation area. But chief economics minister Hatta Rajasa told reporters that the government would issue a new rule to allow some development in forests after discussions between relevant ministers. "For the public interest such infrastructure projects and geothermal projects can use protected forests," Rajasa said.

The users of protected forests would have to compensate by setting aside twice as much land within another part of the province for use as forested land, he added.

The minister said the regulation would give investors certainty and denied it would disturb forest conservation. "We know that there are many geothermal projects located in protected areas. That's why this regulation is part of the government's 100-day programme," he said.

EDIT

http://planetark.org/enviro-news/item/56158

[amborin]

1. Indonesia has a LOUSY environmental record

and demographic growth is a huge factor

a recent article discussed how these incredible peat bogs are being drained for water for the
growing local population, roads consrtructed, etc....

tragic