Government expects Rp 500b from stolen logs<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government hopes to earn Rp 500 billion this
\nyear from the sale of timber confiscated from illegal loggers,
\nthe Ministry of Forestry said.<\/p>\n
The ministry's secretary-general, Suripto, also said the House
\nof Representatives had agreed to double the ministry's budget in
\n2001 to Rp 10 billion to combat illegal logging.<\/p>\n
Some Rp 1.2 trillion (US$126 million) worth of timber is
\nbelieved to be lost annually through illegal logging.<\/p>\n
In 2000, the government was only able to salvage Rp 15 billion
\nof the stolen logs.<\/p>\n
\"It's hard to achieve but we have to be optimistic,\" Suripto
\nsaid of the challenges facing his ministry.<\/p>\n
He declined to give details of the government's plan to combat
\nillegal logging, saying it was still being drafted by the
\nministry.<\/p>\n
But he cited budgetary constraints, a shortage of forest
\nrangers, a lack of incentives for those who turn in illegal
\nloggers and poor coordination between the ministry and the
\nNational Police among the problems in putting up an effective
\nfight against illegal logging.<\/p>\n
Indonesia needs at least 14,000 rangers to patrol the
\ncountry's forest areas. The government currently has only 6,000,
\nBintoro, a spokesman at the Ministry of Forestry, said.<\/p>\n
The government also is considering offering rewards as an
\nincentive for rangers to catch and turn in illegal loggers. The
\nmoney could be taken from the proceeds of the sale of confiscated
\nlogs, he said.<\/p>\n
Suripto said illegal logging, carried out by people living
\nnear forests or holders of forest concessions, was a huge
\nbusiness because of the strong demand for timber.<\/p>\n
He noted that domestic demand for logs in Indonesia amounted
\nto 63 million cubic meters a year, largely for the plywood
\nindustry. Supply from legitimate loggers only amounts to 22
\nmillion cubic meters, he said. (05)<\/p>",
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