A NEW THREAT TO GLOBAL WARMING ACCELERATES

Indonesian environmental activists reject a regulation imposing a new scheme of forest exploitation fees on non forestry firms. They demanded the revocation of the regulation since it would encourage more companies to exploit the forests and destroy them after all.

To make use of the protected forests, the regulation only requires companies annual payment of Rp. 1.5 million (US$ 1,500,-) per-hectare for oil and gas exploration, and Rp. 1.2 miilion (US$ 1,200,-) for production forests. “The regulation is legally flawed and must be withdrawn”, said Rino Subagyo, executive director of Indonesian Center for Environment Law (ICEL).

A key 1999 forestry law prohibits open-pit mining in protected forests due to the massive environmental destruction it brings about. Greenomics Indonesia agreed that the new fee-scheme regulation should be revoked. Indonesia which has just hosted world conference on environment seems to have no idea how such a scheme regulation can bring about intolerable destruction not only of environment but of human life sustainability as well.

Euphoria on global warming which narrows down to climate change issue appears to be a mere fuss among the elite. Seminars or conferences are organized just to bargain or make a deal between the developed and the developing countries. Because practically some developed countries are reluctant to ratify the resolution on global warming. If this practice sustains, a real threat to human extinction is just soon to happen.