Environmentalists call for an end to deforestation<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Environmentalists met with People's Consultative Assembly (MPR)
\nchairman Amien Rais and his deputy, Kholil Bisri, on Tuesday to
\ndemand that political pressure be put on military and police
\npersonnel to stop illegal logging throughout the country.<\/p>\n
The activists said military and police personnel were backing
\nillegal logging across the country, making it difficult to end
\nthe criminal practice without the aid of political pressure.<\/p>\n
\"Illegal logging causes economic and ecological losses to the
\nstate. We need a strong commitment from lawmakers (to stop this
\npractice),\" said Henny Buftheim of the Greencom environmental
\ngroup on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Fellow activist Jatna Suprijatna warned that the forest's
\ndestruction would have a snowball effect, namely the
\ndeterioration of the nation's biodiversity.<\/p>\n
He added that uncontrolled deforestation had contributed to
\nUS$4 billion in state losses per year.<\/p>\n
Jatna said that there was about Rp 2 million to Rp 3 million
\nin state losses for each cubic meter of trees felled due to
\nillegal logging.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging also has a devastating impact on sustaining
\nbiodiversity. Every cubic meter of trees felled means Rp 10
\nmillion in state losses, he said.<\/p>\n
He noted that the rate of deforestation had reached more than
\ntwo million hectares per year.<\/p>\n
Meantime, Agus Setiyarso from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
\nsaid that his office had been monitoring illegal logging in some
\nregencies in West Kalimantan and Riau for the past four years and
\nhad learned that illegal logging was sponsored by businessmen
\nfrom Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Citing data from the Ministry of Forestry, the forest in West
\nKalimantan can tolerate logging of no more than 400,000 cubic
\nmeters per year.<\/p>\n
But Agus disclosed that logging activities reached 4 million
\ncubic meters per year in the province.<\/p>\n
\"This means the amount of logging that has been done is ten
\ntimes more than the tolerable proportions. The supply for the
\nnext generation has already been chopped down,\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
Henny, Jatna, and Agus called for an evaluation of the work of
\nlocal administrations to avoid further deforestation. \"I think
\nseveral regents deserve a jail sentence (for helping illegal
\nloggers),\" Agus said.<\/p>\n
Responding to the activists, Amien said Assembly leaders
\nshared the same opinion as environmental activists but could
\noffer no solution.<\/p>\n
\"We are in the same boat and we are very much concerned about
\nthe diminishing forests,\" Amien said.<\/p>\n
Deforestation in the period of 1985 - 1997
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\nAreas size of forest size of forest percent<\/p>\n
1985 1997
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\nSumatra 22,938,825 16,430,300 - 28
\nJava 1,274,600 1,869,675 47
\nBali 96,450 76,700 - 20
\nNusa Tenggara 686,775 450,450 - 34
\nKalimantan 39,644,025 29,637,475 - 25
\nSulawesi 11,192,950 7,950,900 - 29
\nMaluku 5,790,800 5,820,975 - 1
\nIrian Jaya 35,192,725 33,382,475 - 5
\n---------------------------------------------------------------
\nSource: Madani Journal, February-April 2003<\/p>",
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