Nov 22, 2005. /Lesprom Network/. The government will have provided IDR 2.8 trillion ($277.6 million) for the rehabilitation of 600 000 hectares of forest and critical land as of December 2005, forestry minister MS Kaban told reporters after attending a meeting headed by vice president Jusuf Kalla here Monday. Mr. Kaban cited the short rainy season as the main problem hampering the reforestation program. The project will be started next month as the budgetary realization list has just won approval this week, he further said. It was reported at the meeting that about 1 600 seedling supplier companies have stated their intention of participating in the replanting project. Also present at the meeting were public works minister Djoko Kirmanto, secretary general of the finance ministry JB Kristiadi and director general of land and forest rehabilitation in the forestry ministry Sutino Wibowo. Public works minister Djoko Kirmanto said, meanwhile, that the replanting program will give priority to critical river basin areas as part of efforts to improve water resources conservation. To prepare the replanting program, the public works ministry has delivered the list of 62 critical river basin areas to the forestry ministry. Director general of land and forest rehabilitation Sutikno Wibowo disclosed that ten of the 62 critical river basin areas will be given priority in the replanting project. They comprise the basins of Citarum (West Java), Bengawan Solo (Central Java), Brantas (East Java), Batu Tegi (Lampung), Kuto Panjang (West Sumatra), Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Bili-bili and Lake Tempe (South Sulawesi) and Nolmina (East Nusa Tenggara). The finance ministry has provided IDR 2.8 trillion ($277.6 million) for the replanting program, comprising IDR 1.7 trillion to finance the project in 2005 and IDR 1.1 trillion in 2006, according to secretary general of the finance ministry Kritiadi.