Academics: S Kalimantan must delimit land for oil palm plantation

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan 23/8 (AntaranewsKalsel) - Professor of the Faculty of Forestry, University of Lambung Mangkurat Banjarmasin H. Gusti Muhammad Hatta stated that South Kalimantan should delimit land development of oil palm plantations.

According to the former Minister of Research and Technology and Minister of the Environment during the era of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, oil palm is not included in the development of the silvicultural forest.

He translates that silviculture is the building of forestry poles, can be conceived as an art to build and preserve wood forests.

"Oil palm plantation is not silviculture, but plantation," he said in Banjarbaru on Wednesday.

Hatta hoped there would be no huge land clearing for oil palm planting because it would be a danger to the growth of the natural wood forest.

"If all of our forests are transformed into oil palm plantations, it is a danger, because it can be proven this plants wastefully absorb ground water," he said.

"It does not mean it is not allowed, but there must be restrictions in order the forest of root trees in this area can be sustainable," he said.

It is best to build forests in this area, he said, by developing wood-based forests not fiber-rooted.

According to him, the forest of stem trees is the original plant of this area and can be developed by collaborating with fast production plants.

"For example, rice planting with a fruit tree or other economic generating, because this is a long-term investment in environmental sustainability," he said.