WALHI SUPPORTS STOPPAGE OF FOREST PROJECT IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, Nov 19 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) for Aceh supports the Aceh governor's decision to stop the Aceh Forest Environment Project (AFEP) because it was not benefiting local people, the forum's chief said.

Walhi Aceh director Bambang Antariksa said here on Thursday now was the time for the governor to take a courageous and positive step to stop the project which was initiated in the name of forest preservation while in fact it was done in the interest of certain foundations.

Aceh Govenor Irwandi Yusuf was reported to have stopped the AFEP project which was sponsored by Yayasan Leuser Internasional (YLI) and Fauna Flora Intenasional (FFI) foundations.

Antariksa said that if the project was continued it would further cause damage to Aceh forests and the foundations would enjoy a financial gain of hundreds of billions of rupiah.

The funds were contributed by international donors worth US17.5 million which were under the management of YLI and FFI since 2006.