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Indonesian president extends forest moratorium

Xinhua, May 13, 2015 Adjust font size:

Indonesian President Joko Widodo agreed on Wednesday to extend the forest moratorium program that bans further forest opening for industry, and that arrangement to improve efficacy of the program would be discussed by the related ministries and environmentalist organizations operating in the country.

"This morning the president had approved the extension of forest moratorium as the existing presidential decree endorsing the moratorium expires in May 13," a statement released by the Environment and Forestry ministry said.

The forest moratorium was initiated by then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011 and facilitated by presidential decree, aimed at protecting the nation's forest from further damage due to excessive exploitation by licensed firms.

Besides that, the forest moratorium was also intended to address Indonesia-initiated REDD (Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation) program to reduce emission. The forest moratorium, which valid within two years, was extended by the then-government in 2013. Endi