The wholesale handing out of small-scale HPH licenses by regents in Kalimantan is a matter of concern not only for environmental NGOs. Existing HPH concession holders are also concerned but for a different reason. While the NGOs are worried about the worsening destruction of forests, the concession holders are upset because they feel the forest areas licensed to them have all but been "embezzled" by regents.

Amidst the euphoria that su