November 11, 2003

By George Francis

KOTA KINABALU - The plan by the Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) to build a 100-kilometre road linking Long Pasia village to the Krayan area near the Indonesian border through its concession area has been the subject of protests by conservationists in Indonesia.

Authorities in Indonesia claimed that the plan by SFI to build the road could affect the Krayan-Mentarang National Park.

Their protests had been widely reported in various Indonesian newspapers stressing that if the plan were to be carried out it would sacrifice 60,000 hectares of primary forest, not to mention the subsequent losses.

The road project is believed to be a joint venture project between SFI and Yayasan Pendidikan Pembangunan Perbatasan Kalimantan Timur.

The agreement between the two parties was believed to give the right to SFI for cutting the trees along both sides of the proposed road. The SFI and the Foundation would also open a community economic development programme in Krayan area involving various sectors like plantation and animal husbandry.

The Krayan-Mentarang National Park in the northern part of Kalimantan Timur Province is said to be the largest in South East Asia, covering some 1.35 million hectares.

Conservationists in Indonesia have argued that the opening of such roads may give access to illegal loggers.

They said that there was already a 15km road linking Long Bawang in Sarawak and Ba Kelalan in Kalimantan accessible only to four-wheeled-drive vehicles. According to them, it was more logical to improve the road condition rather than opening a new road.

The Indonesian authorities had cautioned SFI to abandon the plan in a letter signed by its director of area conservation, Adi Susmianto.

Adi was reported to have stated that any activities committed within the park area is 'illegal' and can be considered as a 'criminal act'.

All national parks in Indonesia are under the control of the Director-General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation within the ministry, and not the District Government of Nunukan or the Malinau and the Provincial Government of East Kalimantan.