Aceh Tamiang, Ekuatorial – A coalition of green groups demanded for Aceh Tamiang government banned all permits issuance related to forest exploitation, in Aceh Tamiang, on Thursday (25/3).
The Coalition to Save Forest and Environment just released a policy brief calling for moratorium on forest permit issuance for mining and plantation in Aceh Tamiang district.
It is prompted by the issuance of 2014 Forestry Ministry Letter on Aceh Forest and Marine Conservation which claimed to have used up 45,000 hectares of protected forest in the district.
Said Zainal, coordinator of the coalition, said that the moratorium served to evaluate all activities resulted from the permits and corrected the situation.
“Despite of Aceh Tamiang local government and Aceh governor had written a letter to the ministry about this letter but there is still no answer for solution,” said Zainal. “Aceh Tamiang forest and environment is in grave danger.”
He cited previous ministry’s regulation which released 2,048 hectares of forest to become Other Uses Areas (APL) allegedly turned into illegal oil palm plantation owned by investors.
“This Letter is adding burden for Aceh Tamiang forest. Through this regulation, the government instead legalized illegal activities within forest areas and take side with investors,” he added.
As a result, the coalition recorded several conflicts between people and plantation companies such as PT Rapala, PT Semadam, PT Parasawita, PT Sinar Kaloy Perkasa, PT MPLI, and PT Perkebunan Nusantara 1.
Aceh Tamiang regional secretary Razuardi said that they welcomed people’s participation to save the forests.
“We will follow up the policy brief from the coalition in accordance to our jurisdiction,” said Razuardi.
Furthermore, he said that the Letter was contradicted with Aceh Regional Spatial Planning and underlined that local government had never proposed and agreed to anything included in the letter. Ivo Lestari.