Illegal processing of wood<\/p>\n
We support Indonesian Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa's call
\nfor a worldwide boycott of Malaysian wood (RI urges global
\nboycott on M'sian timber, The Jakarta Post, Feb. 13). We
\nquestion, however, the minister's comment that Malaysia is the
\nlargest buyer of Indonesia's illegal logs. That dubious
\ndistinction goes to the Indonesian wood processing industry
\nwhich, as with Malaysia, launders vast amounts of illegal wood
\nand exports \"legal\" wood to the world.<\/p>\n
Prakosa has established this year's annual allowable cut from
\nIndonesia's forests at 5.8 million cubic meters. As he knows, the
\ncombined demand for wood from Indonesia's sawmills, plywood mills
\nand pulp mills is about 80 million cubic meters, more than ten
\ntimes his annual allowable cut. Little wonder that Indonesian
\ngovernment studies have shown that 70 percent of Indonesian wood
\nis derived from illegal sources.<\/p>\n
Others say the proportion of illegal wood here is close to 90
\npercent of production. WALHI would argue that if indigenous
\npeoples' rights are taken into account, almost 100 percent of
\nIndonesian industrial wood is extracted illegally.<\/p>\n
WALHI therefore calls on the minister of forestry to extend
\nthe call for a world boycott to include Indonesian wood products
\nexported from Indonesia. This call needs to be combined with a
\nmoratorium on industrial logging in Indonesia. Only such drastic
\nmeasures can reform the Indonesian forestry and wood processing
\nsectors, which are completely out of control.<\/p>\n
During the period of the boycott and moratorium, the
\ngovernment should rationalize the nation's wood processing
\nindustries so that their demand for wood matches the annual
\nallowable cut from the forests. Key also to resolving the forest
\ncrisis will be government respect for the rights of some 50
\nmillion indigenous people who are the traditional owners and
\nmanagers of Indonesia's forests, but whose rights to their
\nforests have been systematically violated by the Indonesian
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
LONGGENA GINTING, Executive Director, WALHI - the Indonesian
\nForum for Environment, Jakarta<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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