We are in a REDD zone
Indonesia, the UN and many other countries have adopted the REDD program to help protect the forests. REDD stands for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. If you are interested here is a link to a full explantion in video form for you to watch. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=Fia4RxqU4Sk&vq=medium
Back in 2010 I was concerned about the forestry permits and sent a letter to Southern Arc Minerals explaining my concerns. This was the question and the reply I received in 2010.
Question:
Good morning. I hope everything is well with you. My question is if we have forest on our property (anywhere) protected or unprotected, is it possible that we could fall under the forest land permit even if we are not going to mine in that area? The Forestry Department and or the Governor are not really clear in their views yet. Everybody is waiting for the other guy to make a move first. That is where I see a delay. My second question is, if this is not going to create a delay for SA then why the hold up at the Governors office at this time? Also could I ask in general how the talks went with the companies SA were entertaining?
Part Answer:
"We have no forestry issues on any of our properties. These issues were dealt with long ago. In any event, the term “protected forest” is a Dutch term, held over into the current Indonesian laws, meaning “protected commercial or productive forest”, intended to prevent people from poaching timber from forested areas intended for exploitation. Hence, dispensations are granted for strategic economic use of such a forest, with compensation to be paid as money according to an officially gazetted price and in kind at 2 new trees planted for every one cut down. Mining, pursuant to a decree issued by the Forestry Department in early April, is permitted in protected forest areas, particularly underground mining, which logically has minimal impacts, if any, on surface vegetation.
As for the governor and the Forestry Department not being clear on the views... that is impossible because the spatial plan Perda is enacted, and if this issue had not been resolved then it would not have been passed by the provincial legislature. The Perda specifically allocates different areas of the province to various economic activities, including mining, forestry, agriculture, tourism, urban activities, animal husbandry, etc. Protected forests and other class of forests are clearly delineated by this spatial plan. There is absolutely no confusion in how land is to be allocated for different uses. Granted, the process to reach this agreement/consensus was protracted, much to our chagrin, but at least now it is spelled out clearly with no doubts whatsoever. Hence, there is no need to wait for anyone to blink first. It is all over bar the shouting. It has been since the evening of March 7, our time, if you recall."
Since then things have changed. As we can see the land we are working has changed to over 50% designated forest. Perhaps this has changed because in 2 years trees have formed and are growing where they were not in 2010. In any case it just goes to show you that what expectations a company may have the circumstances can change in a few short years. Cheers.