Jakarta, June 27 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the protection of tropical forests in Indonesia was the responsibility of all parties, including the central and regional governments, private companies, and the civil society.
Speaking at a function to open Intenasional Tropical Forest Alliance workshop here on Thursday, President Yudhoyono said all parties should be responsible in protecting the tropical forests in the country.
The workshop was themed Promoting the Sustainability and Productivity of Oil Palm, Pulp, and Paper.
"We all have responsibility but we cannot do it alone. In my view, partnership is important. Central and regional governments, private companies, and the civil society should cooperate to prevent deforestation and to promote reforestation," President Yudhoyono noted.
Besides, he said the developed countries should play their role in reducing green house gas emission while the developing countries were working even harder.
"This is what I call a share of responsibility," the president said.
He pointed out the protection of tropical forests was very important for economic sustainability in the future because Indonesia is a country with the largest tropical forest in the world.
Industries in forestry sector in Indonesia contribute 3.5 percent of the total national economy.
Indonesia is the world's largest pulp and paper producing country that produces 8 million tons of pulp and 13 million tons of paper per year. Pulp and paper industries can absorb 3.76 million workers.
Indonesia is also the largest oil palm producing country in the world that produced around 26 million tons last year, and with Malaysia they control 85 percent of palm oil production.(T. SYS)
