Plantations, cleared from rainforest, outside of Jayapura in Papua province. Images from Google Earth / Maps

February 01, 2011 (mongabay.com) – Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has approved conversion of some 3 million hectares of natural forest in Papua province, on the island of New Guinea, according to new analysis by Greenomics Indonesia, an environmental group. Data from Greenomics Indonesia indicates 17 companies have been granted concessions to clear natural forest in Papua. Roughly 1 million hectares is earmarked for industrial plantations that will supply the pulp and paper industry. Greenomics Indonesia alleges that six of the companies, which together hold 1.2 million hectares, have been exempted from the moratorium on concessions in natural forest and peatland areas. Greenomics Indonesia’s Executive Director Elfian Effendi says the plan could transform the heavily forested province. “It will be no different from what has happened in Riau Province,” Elfian said, referring to the province in Sumatra that has been largely deforested for palm oil and pulp and paper production. Elfian urged Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to immediately clarify the proposed moratorium on forest conversion. The moratorium has been in legal limbo since January 1, 2011. “We must at all costs avoid a situation where the government itself creates a new and protracted period of uncertainty.”

Indonesia set to clear 3 million ha of rainforest in New Guinea