Forestry Department Adds Rental Helicopters
Tuesday, 15 April, 2008 | 15:04 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The forestry department plans to rent four Camov helicopters to overcome the forest fires this year. Directorate General for Forestry and Nature Conservation Darori said that they will have a total of six helicopters. “The tender will go out in May, and is expected to be functional by June,” he said Tuesday.

According to Darori, there were 37,909 fire spots this year, due to the long dry season in several regions. The concentration of fire spots will likely be the same as 2007 in Riau.

The Forestry Department also plans to rent a Karaven from the United States at a cost of US$ 2,000 per hour. The copter will be used to control the protected forest in Indonesia from illegal logging. “We plan to rent 1000 hours with 50 percent discount,” Darori said.

ARTI EKAWATI