International Wood International Wood 2004 | Page 27

Harmonizing Social, Economic and Ecological Aspects: INDONESIA HARVESTS FORESTS FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE . Forest resources are one of the most important renewable I natural resources of Indonesia. The utilization of forests is based . All plywood and wood II products produced and exported on the principle of sustained yield for multipurpose use. This utilization plan encompasses: from Indonesia come from the mentioned Production Forests, using the silviculture system of selective harvesting and enrichment planting. To ensure the legality of the logs, our government has set regulations as follows: • Soil and water conservation • Preservation of essential ecological processes and the holistic life supporting system • Managing forest product resources, provision of a resource that supports the livelihood of local people • Preservation of biodiversities of fauna and flora, and • Supporting transmigration programs (the relocation of people from densely populated areas to less populated areas) as well as agricultural and other public services 1. Legal Production Forest Concessions allow harvesting selected In accordance to these principles, the Forestry Department of Indonesia has created three categories for the country’s forests: commercial trees with a diameter of 50 cm and up, but only after receiving the Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) guidelines as set by the Forestry Department. The AAC is based on a Field Survey called Timber Cruising with 100% intensity. 1. 2. The transportation of harvested logs to industry from Legal Natural forests located in hilly areas with high slopes and with endangered topographical characteristics are designated as Protection Forests, which are strictly prohibited for logging operations. 2. Forests that contain high levels of biodiversity and specific fauna and flora are designated as Conservation Forests. 3. Natural forests located in relatively level areas that are rich with commercial tree species are designated as Production Forests. Logging in these areas is permitted using the silviculture system of selective harvesting and enrichment planting. These three forest types are set by our government as Permanent Forests. These first two forest types are set aside to maintain essential ecological processes and life-support systems, preserve genetic diversity, and to ensure the sustainable utilization of species and ecosystems. To protect those permanent forest areas from threat of rising demand for land, there are land areas under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Department set aside as Conversion Areas. Conversion Areas can be converted into agricultural estates, people transmi- gration sites and other various non-forestry purposes. Forest Concessions complying with AAC guidelines must be covered by a document called the Forest Products Legality Letter (FPLL / SKSHH), which is issued by Forestry Department officials after conducting field checks and verifying the legal source of the logs. 3. To further safeguard legal practices, plywood or wood products to be exported should be endorsed by BRIK (Forestry Industries Revitalization Agency), which was formed under joint decrees of the Minister of Forestry and the Minister of Industry and Trade. BRIK’s endorsement is given after checking the legality as well as the volume of the FPLL, and ensuring that the products to be exported are in conformity with the recovery rate set by the Forestry Department. Customs officials will refuse any exports without BRIK’s endorsement. III. Therefore, plywood and other wood products exported to USA are thus ensured to be legal and to have come from the sustainably managed Production Forests that are by design allocated for log production. IW Information contained in this editorial was provided by the Indonesian Wood Panel Association (APKINDO). Direct inquiries to: Phone: [phone]; Fax: [phone]; [email protected] IMPORTED WOOD 27