TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Environment and Forestry Ministry is evaluating the licenses of two companies operating within the vicinities of the Komodo National Park in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The two companies, PT Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism and PT Segara Komodo Lestari, are among 106 other businesses whose forestry concession permits are being evaluated.

Komodo Wildlife Ecotourism obtained a forestry concession of 426.07 hectares on Padar Island in 2013 from the Forestry Ministry. Segara Komodo Lestari obtained a permit for 22.10 hectares in Loh Buaya, Rinca Island, based in September 2013.

Venansius Haryanto, a researcher with Labuan Bajo-based community rights advocacy Sunspirit for Justice and Peace, called the decision to evaluate the two companies as good news.

"We hope that this will not be limited to an evaluation, but revoked. And then, no more companies may enter the national park area," he said on Friday, January 7.

The decision to evaluate the permits is set forth in Environment and Forestry Minister's Decree issued on January 5. It was announced by President Joko Widodo a day later on January 6, where he said that the policy is enforced in a bid to improve the governance manage of licensing.

In total, the government revoked the 2,078 coal and mineral mining permits, 192 forestry permits covering 3.1 million hectares, and Land Cultivation Permits (HGU) for some 34,000 hectares.

"We will revoke permits that are not implemented, not productive, transferred to other parties, and not in accordance with regulations," Jokowi said at the Bogor Palace, January 6.

Jokowi also said that he would give opportunities to the people and productive socio-community groups to manage the assets.

Read: Revised Amdal of Komodo National Park to Be Delivered Immediately to UNESCO

Tempo.co