Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the expansion of palm oil plantation in the country would not destroy environment.
Earlier, European campaigners said the opening of new plantations for palm oil in Indonesia has damaged the local environment.
President Yudhoyono contended that Indonesia had clear rules in utilizing lands for agriculture, particularly for palm oil plantation.
"..the area categorized as forest (will be sustained) as forest, the land classified as agriculture area will be used for agriculture. The unutilized lands will be used for agriculture without destroying our forest," he said during a cabinet meeting at the State Palace.
The president also stressed that the country would strengthen measures to monitor the forest preservation.
"We must have a credible monitoring system (to monitor the efforts to preserve forests)," he said.
Illegal logging and forest destruction have been among the major problems for protecting the forest in this archipelago country.
Indonesia has pledged to cut carbon emission by at least 26 percent by 2020.
Under a deal last week, Indonesia has promised to halt new concessions for the conversion of rain forest and peatland into palm oil plantation, starting in 2011.
But, the moratorium will not apply for development of strategic infrastructure, including the projects for geothermal power and other renewable energy, according to a minister.
Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil. The country plans to raise its production in 2014 by at least 5 million tons to 24 million tons, and for this year Indonesia plans to raise output to 21-23 million tons, according to Agriculture Ministry.
In 2009, Indonesia palm oil production reached 19 million tons.
Conference Notice: China ChemNet and Guangdong Oil &Gas Association will hold the 3rd Methanol-DME/LPG conference in Shanghai (details refered to: http://news.chemnet.com/list/zt/industry/erjiamiyingwen/index.html) on June 23-25. It will concentrate on the new way out for DME by entering gas community, methanol development direction on clean energy and the integration and mixture of LPG resource. welcome your attendance. Contact:0086-531-62311804 Brenda
Earlier, European campaigners said the opening of new plantations for palm oil in Indonesia has damaged the local environment.
President Yudhoyono contended that Indonesia had clear rules in utilizing lands for agriculture, particularly for palm oil plantation.
"..the area categorized as forest (will be sustained) as forest, the land classified as agriculture area will be used for agriculture. The unutilized lands will be used for agriculture without destroying our forest," he said during a cabinet meeting at the State Palace.
The president also stressed that the country would strengthen measures to monitor the forest preservation.
"We must have a credible monitoring system (to monitor the efforts to preserve forests)," he said.
Illegal logging and forest destruction have been among the major problems for protecting the forest in this archipelago country.
Indonesia has pledged to cut carbon emission by at least 26 percent by 2020.
Under a deal last week, Indonesia has promised to halt new concessions for the conversion of rain forest and peatland into palm oil plantation, starting in 2011.
But, the moratorium will not apply for development of strategic infrastructure, including the projects for geothermal power and other renewable energy, according to a minister.
Indonesia is the world's largest producer of palm oil. The country plans to raise its production in 2014 by at least 5 million tons to 24 million tons, and for this year Indonesia plans to raise output to 21-23 million tons, according to Agriculture Ministry.
In 2009, Indonesia palm oil production reached 19 million tons.
Conference Notice: China ChemNet and Guangdong Oil &Gas Association will hold the 3rd Methanol-DME/LPG conference in Shanghai (details refered to: http://news.chemnet.com/list/zt/industry/erjiamiyingwen/index.html) on June 23-25. It will concentrate on the new way out for DME by entering gas community, methanol development direction on clean energy and the integration and mixture of LPG resource. welcome your attendance. Contact:0086-531-62311804 Brenda
