(Indonesian) Govt to allow peatland (oil palm) plantations

[OKIsItJustMe]

http://old.thejakartapost.com/detailnational.asp?fileid=20090213.D04&irec=6

Govt to allow peatland plantations

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Agriculture Ministry will issue a decree to allow businesses to dig up the country's millions of hectares of peatland for oil palm plantations.

Gatot Irianto, the ministry's head of research and development, said his office was currently drafting a ministerial decree that would explain in detail the mechanism to turn the peatland areas into oil palm plantations, a move that many say will further damage the country's environment.

"We still need land for oil palm plantations. We must be honest: the sector has been the main driver for the people's economy," he said Thursday on the sidelines of a discussion about adaptation in agriculture, organized by the National Commission on Climate Change.

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"We promise to promote eco-friendly management to ward off complaints from overseas buyers and international communities."

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[thereismore]

1. Can't blame them when we need diesel. It's economic extortion. nt