4 HTI Companies In West Kalimantan Indicated For Violating Environmental Commitment

Coordinator Iflahari, Okto Yugo Setiyo conveyed the findings of his party at the Kolase Journalist Camp which was held in the Kakap River (ANTARA/Rendra Oxtora)

PONTIANAK - Coordinator Iflahari, Okto Yugo Setiyo, revealed indications of a violation of commitment to protecting the environment against four Industrial Plant Forest (HTI) companies in West Kalimantan.

"Based on the results of monitoring the commitment of HTI companies in West Kalimantan from 2018 to 2024. Monitoring carried out Iflahari and civil society organizations include eight provinces in Indonesia, including West Kalimantan, with a focus on implementing policies such as NDEP (No Deforestation, No Peak, and No Exploitation), restoration of peat, and compliance with environmental protection," Okto said in Pontianak, Antara, Sunday, October 27.

Da mengatakan, setidaknya ada empat dari 11 perusahaan HTI di Kalimantan Barat yang terindikasi melanggar komitmen lingkungan, yakni PT Finantara Intiga, PT Mayawana Persada, PT Asia Tani Persada, dan PT Wana Hijau PesAGuan.

These companies are suspected of committing serious violations, including the opening of peatlands, deforestation in protected areas, land conflicts with the community, and land conversion that is not in accordance with the provisions.

In the same place, the Director of the Pontianak Institute (Point) of West Kalimantan, Martin Gilang, said that government regulations that often change and conflicts of land interests with the community often hinder sustainable HTI governance.

"Changeful rules and overlapping of land are big problems for companies to fully commit to good forest governance," he said.

In the presentation of the dissemination, Okto and Martin outlined a number of violations found in four HTI companies in West Kalimantan such as PT Finantara Intiga which has concessions covering an area of 286,770 hectares spread across Sanggau, Sekadau, and Sintang, only 12.6 percent of areas managed by the community, hinder access to legal forest utilization.

This condition causes inequality in land access and causes conflict with local communities. In addition, about 26.3 percent of this concession is in the Other Use Area (APL), which requires an evaluation of permits because it is outside the forest area.

Then, PT Mayawana Persada, which is based on satellite imagery, this company opens up an area of 49,953 hectares, of which 22,150 hectares are located in the Peat Hydrological Area (KHG). "This is an indication of serious violations, because instead of restoring, the company actually opens peat forests that should be prioritized for protection," he said.

Furthermore, PT Asia Tani Persada, although PP No. 57/2016 prohibits activities in peat areas, this company continues to open up new land covering an area of 431 hectares at KHG Sungai Labai-River Kualan without any significant improvement efforts.

Fourth, PT Wana Hijau PesAGuan where based on monitoring results, it shows that the company is still producing wood from natural forests, which can be seen from piles of roundwood with a diameter of 30-40 cm at the concession location.

"This development is contrary to the commitment of zero deforestation and indicates that there is still exploitation of natural forests," said Martin.

Regarding the findings of this violation, according to Martin, it is necessary to get serious attention so that the concession permits for HTI companies that are proven to violate are evaluated. Collaboration between the government and the company is considered very important to improve forest governance and reduce land conflicts.

"Companies and the government must work better so that forest sustainability and the welfare of local communities can be realized," he said.

With this dissemination, Ifahari hopes for a stronger commitment from the HTI company to carry out sustainable practice and comply with government provisions related to environmental protection and restoration efforts in the West Kalimantan forest area.