New Provision on Overlapping Applications for Timber-Product Utilization Permits

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry(“Ministry”)has issued Regulation No. P.32/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/5/2017 (“Amendment”),which amends Ministry Regulation No. P.9/MENLHK-II/2015 on Procedures for the Granting and Expansion of Working Areas and the Extension of Timber-Forest Product Utilization Licenses for Natural Forests, Timber-Forest Product Utilization Licenses for Restored Ecosystems and Timber-Forest Product Utilization Licenses for Industrial Plants in Forest-Production Areas(“Regulation 9/2015”).The Amendment sets out a number of procedures relating to the avoidance of overlapping applications for the securing of new or for the extension of old Timber-Forest Product Utilization Permits(“IUPHHK”)in areas of Natural Forest (“IUPHHK-HA”) [1] and in areas of Industrial Plantation Forest (“IUPHHK-HTI”), [2] as well as for the purpose of Ecosystem Restoration (“IUPHHK-RE”). [3] Applying for New IUPHHK-HA, IUPHHK-RE and IUPHHK-HTI AreasThe IUPHHK-HA/RE/HTI may be granted to any applicant that wishes to utilize areas of forest located in forestry areas, provided that they satisfy the following criteria: [4]