Compensation for protecting forests on agenda

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-08 21:36

JAKARTA -- The developing countries will seek compensation from the developed countries for protecting their forests during the Climate Change Conference in Indonesia this year, Indonesian Environment Minister Rahmat Witoelar said here Monday.

The conference will be held in Bali from December 3 to 15.

"The compensation for the deforestation will range from US$5 to US$20 per hectare," Witoelar told reporters at the State Palace.

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"We will negotiate the precise number," he added.

Masnelyarti Hilman, an official at the Ministry of Conservation and Natural Resources, told Xinhua that Indonesia, one of the developing countries, has nearly 60 million hectares of forest and plans to improve over 120 million hectares of destructed forest in the country.

Witoelar said that Indonesia and other developing countries would push the developed countries to contribute on the emission reduction based on the amount of their contribution on the accumulated gas emission and their economic capabilities.

About 189 countries will participate in the climate change conference which has attracted more than 10,000 delegates from the world.



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