Report: APRIL, APP clearcut forests in Kerumutan and Bukit Tigapuluh blocks

Analysis -- July 2006 Investigative Report   

Kerumutan Block (Map 1 & Map 2)   

Eyes on the Forest (EoF) Investigation in July 2006 inside Kerumutan forest block has found that about 10,000 hectares of natural forest logs had been clearcut illegally in the concession of PT Mitra Kembang Selaras (B4010 peat spatial planning, Map 1). The logging in this concession started in 2003. EoF observed logging activities being carried out by PT Mitra Kembang Selaras and followed the wood from the logging sites until the receipt by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, belonging to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), (B4010, Map 2).    

This is the EoF’s third investigation to find the alleged involvement of PT Mitra Kembang Selaras in illegal activities inside this forest block as those in March 2005 and December 2005.   

Based upon EoF’s investigation, the concession license in this area was a Principal license issued by the Head of Indragiri Hulu District: • PT Mitra Kembang Selaras has an IUPHHK-HT license (Industrial Timber Plantation License) by Decree Number Kpts.352/2002 dated 21 November 2002. The area size of the concession where logging is happening is 14,450 hectares.   

The Ministry of Forestry (MoF) is on the process of reviewing the validity of Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses (IUPHHK-HT) issued by Provincial Governors or Heads of Districts (Forestry Minister Decree No P.03/Menhut-II/2005 dated 18 January 2005). Since 25 July 2005, Eyes on the Forest has been calling on all companies that are clearcutting natural forests based on such licenses to immediately issue a moratorium on all forest clearance operations. The coalition also called on all companies sourcing timber from such activities to immediately stop all deliveries (see EoF PR on 25 July 2005).    

PT Mitra Kembang Selaras should not have started the operations in this concession and should therefore immediately stop its logging activities. PT. RAPP should stop sourcing timber from such activities until written legal verifications are issued by the MoF.    In addition to the legal review by the MoF, President of Indonesia through a Presidential Decree (Inpres No. 4/2005 about Combating Illegal Logging and its Distribution in All Area in Indonesia issued on 18 March 2005) and Riau Governor’s decree (No Kpts.472/X/2005 issued on 21 October 2005 about forming Curbing Illegal Logging Team to support the implementation of Presidential Decree in Riau Province) calls to examine operation licenses relating to timber forest concession and further cancellation of the licenses if they have been issued and do not comply with existing laws.

The concession held by PT Mitra Kembang Selaras overlaps with these following areas, thus violate the following laws: • Natural forests which was still in good condition, as shown by Landsat Image for the area in 2005. (See image A). Forestry Minister Decree Number 10/2000 in connection with 21/2001 stipulates that Timber Plantation Concession License (IUPHHK-HT) should not be granted for operation in natural forest, but should only be granted in barren land, grassland or bushes in production forest and that the area should not have vegetation of more than 10cm diameter trees for all kinds of species with potential timber density less than 5 m3 per hectare or number of sub-species of dominant species less than 200 trees per hectare.  Provincially protected “Protection Area” (Kawasan Lindung) as per the currently active Riau Land Use Planning (RTRWP 1994) should not be converted (Map 1).                                                                             

PT RAPP of APRIL has purchased the timber from this forest block and therefore has violated Forestry Law No. 41/1999 article 50 clause (3) point (f) in conjunction with article 78 clause (4) which prohibit anybody to receive, buy or sell, receive as an exchange, receive as an entrusted goods, keep or possess any forest products which were allegedly harvested from a forest area through an illegal way.    

PT Mitra Kembang Selaras should respect the existing laws in Indonesia and stop the forest clearance in this concession immediately. EoF also calls on PT RAPP of APRIL to immediately stop sourcing wood originating from such operation.   

Bukit Tigapuluh Block (Map 3 & Map 4)    

Eyes on the Forest (EoF) Investigation in July 2006 has found that natural forest had already been clearcut inside Bukit Tigapuluh forest block by CV Cenaku Indah (B5005, Map 3; B5005 CoC, Map 4).  The logging in this concession started in April 2006. EoF observed logging activities by CV Cenaku Indah and then followed the wood carried from the loading site until the receipt by PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (PT IKPP), a company belonging to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).    EoF’s chain of custody investigation has successfully traced a pontoon identified as Sinar Abadi 1 –pulled by a tug boat called GT 74 NO 279/PPM—from log piling station (TPK) of CV Cenaku Indah in Kuala Cenaku village until it arrived at PT IKPP’s jetty in Perawang (Map 4). 

Concession granted to CV Cenaku Indah is an extended log utilization license from oil palm plantation concession which belongs to PT Bertuah Aneka Yasa. The concession area overlaps with a formerly proposed timber plantation concession of PT Chandra Dirgantara. Now the proposed concession is converted to overlapping ones among four oil palm plantations.    

The concession held by CV Cenaku Indah overlaps with these following areas, thus violate existing laws:  Natural forests which was still in good condition, as shown by Landsat Image for the area in 2005. (See image A). Forestry Minister Decree Number 10/2000 in connection with 21/2001 stipulates that Timber Plantation Concession License (IUPHHK-HT) should not be granted for operation in natural forest, but should only be granted in barren land, grassland or bushes in production forest and that the area should not have vegetation of more than 10cm diameter trees for all kinds of species with potential timber density less than 5 m3 per hectare or number of sub-species of dominant species less than 200 trees per hectare.

Peat soil depth of more than four meters (Wetlands International & Canadian International Development Agency 2003: Map of Area of Peatland Distribution and Carbon Content 2002 Riau Province). According to the Presidential Decree Number 32/1990, natural forests located on peat soil with depth of 3 meter or more situated in upstream and swamp should be maintained. (Map 3) • Land allocated for oil palm plantation should comply with its criteria of having peat soil depth below two meters as stipulated by Decree of Minister of Forestry and Plantation Number 376/1998, dated 8 April 1998, on Criteria for Forest Land Allocation for Oil Palm Plantation Cultivation.