Jakarta – Ricky Avenzora, a forestry expert at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), has hailed Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan's plan to evaluate cooperations with foreign NGOs.

"It needs to be done objectively, measurably and transparently," Ricky said, as quoted by Antara news agency on Tuesday.

The evaluation should be comprehensive and should also take into account the NGO's vision, mission, achievements, human resources and financial aspects, he said, adding that the minister's intention should be supported by all parties and followed by other ministers.

The forestry expert also said that earlier collaborations with foreign NGOs had tended to be counterproductive.

Many groups had alerted the ministry about the matter and called for the establishment of an NGO watchdog, Ricky disclosed. "Our country should no longer allow the entry of third-class expatriates sent by foreign states to Indonesia," he said.

Minister Zulkifli Hasan said earlier that he was ready to evaluate his ministry's cooperation with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), as well as other NGOs because he was of the view that the NGOs had failed to support Indonesia's forest management.

Upon evaluating the state of Indonesia's forests, where foreign NGOs had been involved in the management, the minister concluded that the forest conditions had worsened, according to Antara.

He cited the deteriorating condition of Teso Nilo National Park, which was being managed in cooperation with the WWF. Another example was Mount Leuser National Park in Nangroe Aceh Daroesalam, Zulkifli Hasan added.