(openPR) - Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has reported that the government of Indonesia has hosted a forum on its forestry industry to prevent the spread of what it claims is misinformation about its environmental credentials.

Seattle, WA, October 01, 2011 -- Forestry Research Associates (FRA) has reported that the government of Indonesia has hosted a forum on its forestry industry to prevent the spread of what it claims is misinformation about its environmental credentials.

The event was attended by high profile environmental NGOs, officials from the Indonesian and Australian governments and representatives from various paper companies.

The lunchtime meeting at Sydney’s Four Season’s Hotel was hosted by Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry secretary general, Hadi Daryant, who was keen to highlight the country’s impressive plans to cut carbon emissions by 26 per cent by the end of the decade, along with its other environmental commitments.

FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, said, “FRA welcomes Indonesia’s willingness to deal with the misinformation about its environmental credentials directly, which shows great initiative and a commitment to the cause.”

The meeting was deemed necessary following the ongoing conflict between some NGOs, including Greenpeace, and some of the country’s largest paper companies, particularly Asia Pulp & Paper. Several reports have recently claimed that products made by the paper firm contain tropical wood from rain forests sourced from Indonesia, suggesting that unsustainable logging of valuable rain forests is still occurring in the country.

FRA stated, “Indonesia needs to focus on stamping out the logging of tropical woods from rainforests for the future of the planet and for the future of its forestry industry, which needs to be managed sustainably in order to safeguard the future of the industry for generations to come.”

Projects, such as Greenwood Management's plantations in Brazil, have attracted praise for their environmental credentials and the part they play in helping governments to introduce stricter controls over illegal logging.

Deddy Saleh, the Indonesian trade minister, stated that some boycotts of the nation’s forestry products have been based on misinformation: "We think this treatment is unfair. Sometimes these bans come with incomplete information from NGOs and governments."

Some of the results of analysis carried out by NGOs on paper products sourced from Indonesian wood have been based on “guesswork,” according to critics.

Deddy Saleh, the Indonesian trade minister, stated that some boycotts of the nation’s forestry products have been based on misinformation

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
206-316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
www.forestry-research.com