Wednesday, July 23, 2008
RI to Have Additional Potential to Absorb 2.4 Million Tons of Carbon
Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will have an additional potential to absorb 2.4 million tons of carbon if the government is successful in its efforts to mobilize the people to plant 100 million trees by the end of 2008, Forestry Minister MS Kaban said.

"The 100 million trees, to be planted on 100,000 hectares-- is about US$12 million on the assumption that each hectare could absorb 24 tons of carbon with a price of US$5 per ton," the minister said here on Wednesday.

He said that the value of the carbon was significant enough for the development of forests in Indonesia.

The minister was speaking during an activity held to popularize the government program of Planting 100 Million Trees and the 2008 Indonesian Tree Planting Day which will be announced by President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono next November.

Kaban said that besides the additional carbon absorption potential from the 100 million trees, Indonesia also had other potentials to absorb 68 billion tons of carbon.