REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BOGOR -- Research, Development, and Innovation Agency, Ministry of Environment and Forests, found seven potential types of wood that can be used as an alternative wood for paper pulp maker. The wood usually used in Indonesia for paper industry was acacia wood.

Head of Evaluation Dissemination and Librarianship, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Nugroho Sulistyo Priyono said, Acacia woods have short fibrous, so it was easier to be processed into a pulp.  Acacia woods are plants that are susceptible to pests and diseases.

Some diseases that often attack and reduce the quality of acacia wood is heart disease, rot of root, and stem cancer, that are commonly caused by fungus. As a result of the disease, the final product of industrial plantation becomes damaged.

"Now there are seven types of wood that potentially replace acacia, among others gerunggang, binuang, and jelutung," said Nugroho, in the Indonesia Conference of Science Journalists in Bogor, Saturday (29/8).

Alternative materials of wood types in paper industry are needed to maintain the sustainability of the paper industry in the country. Indonesia should be proud, because it can produce its own pulp, and even can be exported.

Unfortunately, the seven types of wood are still existing in natural forests, so it can not be used for wood powder materials. Paper industry is also stuck in the ministry regulation, where there is a ministerial decree that prohibits harvesting in natural forests.

This regulation is intended to anticipate massive deforestation and timber theft. According to Nugroho, the regulation could be re-evaluated so that the cultivation and the use of the seven types of wood can be made by public and businesses with applicable rules.

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