Bojonegoro, East Java - Coordinating Minister for Economy, Hatta Rajasa has claimed that forest management is very important in Indonesia because the world's attention is focused on forests. "It's all the more important as the international community regards the forests in Kalimantan as the lungs of the world," the minister said here on Friday. Rajasa opined that the forest management in Indonesia could be managed well if forest damage and illegal logging activities were reduced significantly. He explained that illegal logging activities during the beginning of reforms era had destroyed 3.5 million hectares of forested area but the figure could be reduced to 0.25 million hectares. "Regular people should also be involved in forest management so that they can gain from the economic aspects of forests," Rajasa said. Meanwhile, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said his office would provide Rp2.5 trillion for the development of green areas by people. According to him, the people could borrow from the fund to buy various kinds of trees and saplings for planting. The minister explained that a person with 1 hectare of land could borrow Rp1 million to buy 20,000 trees for planting. "The funds are allocated for development of green areas by people," Hasan said. (*)

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