By Samantha
The Forestry Ministry has agreed not to include concessions owned by Chevron Geothermal and state owned mining companies PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) into the Mount Halimun Salak Forestry Park because the concessions had been awarded to the two companies before the establishment of the park.
Forestry Minister Zulkifili Hasan said in Jakarta that the decision was made in line with the recommendation from an inter-government team on the national park established by the forestry ministry. ?The concession rights were awarded to the two companies before the government decided to expand the forestry area park in 2003,? Hasan said.
The Minister said that the status of the forest area where the two companies? concessions were located would be reduced into a protected forest. According to the regulation, a mining operation is still allowed in a protected forest, while in a forest conservation are such as the Mount Halimun Salak Forest Park, mining operation is strictly prohibited.
Editing by Adianto P. Simamora
