REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Environmental group Greenpeace called on government to change management system of industrial forest concessions (HTI) to solve forest fire problems in Sumatra. Campaigner Forest of Greenpeace, Yuyun Indradi explained that many HTI areas were planted with unsuitable plants in peat soil condition.

"For example, acacia (paper raw material) is not fit in peatlands. We must identify specific kinds of plants, which are suitable to be planted in peatlands," Indradi said on Wednesday as reported by Meiliani Fauziah.

In the new system, HTI must plant suitable plants in peatlands. HTI contribution in Indonesia cannot be compared with the loss in case of fire in peatlands. Forest fires for example, contributed 110 thousand deaths per year in Southeast Asian countries.

Greenpeace also asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to amend regulations on peatlands, which thus far had failed to set out a coherent approach to protect and manage all peatlands. Greenpeace International issued the statement in response to Yudhoyono’s keynote speech at the Forests Asia Summit.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika