Jakarta, Nov. 3 (ANTARA) - On 2nd November 2008, The Prince of Wales Charles and parties visit the Harapan Rain Forest in Jambi assisted by the Indonesian Minister of Forestry. Along with them The Ambassador of United Kingdom, The Governor of Jambi Provinces and The Regional Executives, The Director of Bird-life International, The Director of Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Director of PT. Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia, and the Director of Burung Indonesia.

The Harapan Rain Forest of Jambi is managed by a consortium of three Non-Governmental Association (NGO's), namely; Burung Indonesia, Royal Society for the Protection of Bird (RSPB), and Bird-Life International, they form PT. Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia (Reki). PT. Reki got the first licenses for the forest ecosystem restoration in Indonesia. PT Reki has already had the concession rights of about 101,000 ha for 100 years of production forest in Jambi provinces and South Sumatera for ecosystem restoration purposes through the auction process.

The ecosystem restoration inside production forest is the new innovation conducted by the Ministry of Forestry to safe production forest with important conservation aspects. It is the time to have a great and significant impact in forest conservation. The Harapan Rain Forest in Jambi is one of the new initiatives of forestry development in Indonesia, moreover in the world. Nobody may exploit this forest area, with the main purposes to safe-guard the ecosystem inside concession.

The area designated as ecosystem restoration and managed by PT.Reki is unproductive area, less productive and still productive of production forest. By having the ecosystem restoration, in economic aspects the society will get income of Rp.4 billion per year and absorb of 700 manpower a year. Therefore, the ecosystem restoration will improve the society welfare and prosperous around the forest.

For further information, please contact Ir. Masyhud, MM, The Director of Forestry Information Center, Phone: (021) 570-5099, Fax: (021) 573-8732