The Indonesian government has decided to outlaw the use of natural forest trees by the pulp and paper industry by 2009 and the wood industry by 2014. Timber processing factories would have to start establishing new timber plantations (HTI) to supply them with logs. If the industry were to start planting trees now, the industrial forests would be able to supply them with enough raw materials by 2014. The policy is aimed at preventing further destruction of the country’s tropical forests, which according to the Forestry Minister, M.S. Kaban, were being reduced by an average of 2.87 million hectares per year. In 2005, the implementation of the HTI reached 2.5 million ha with a sustained yield of up to 22 million m3 of logs. It is projected to reach 5 million ha in 2009 and 9 million ha by 2014. (Source: Timberhunt.com)