Conversion into monoculture

This is another new trends for HTI or plantation in finding new location with low risk of land tenure problem. When most of mineral soils are occupied, peat swamp forest will be the best choice, moreover with enough standing stock. Lalan Production Forest is the area that is still covered by secondary swamp forest hence it differs greatly from OKI district which degraded severely.

In 2007, MoF issued a decree for PT Rimba Hutan Mas (Sinar Mas Group) to convert 67 thousand ha or peat swamp forest in MPDF for timber plantation. Other company, PT Pakerin and Bumi Persada Permai (Sinar Mas Group) have started already to get the decree. However, both did not operates inside the MPDF. PT Sumber Hijau Permai (Sinar Mas Group) started their operation in 2004. PT Sumber Hijau Permai is located adjacent to Sembilang natioal park, which is partly inside the peat lands. According to provincial forestry staff, PT Tiesco seems to have advance negotiation with MoF, and thus they have high chances of getting the area north from PT Rimba Hutan Mas (see map below).