Perhutani loses $49m through theft<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State-owned forestry company Perum Perhutani
\nlost Rp 464.8 billion (US$49 million) worth of trees last year
\nbecause of widespread theft at its forestry concessions on Java.<\/p>\n
Perhutani President Abas Ts told reporters on Wednesday that
\nsome 2.3 million trees, mostly teakwood, were stolen during the
\nyear, down from 2.6 million lost in 1999.<\/p>\n
\"Stealing has become rampant in the last two years,\" Abas said
\nduring a media conference to announce the financial results of
\nhis company.<\/p>\n
He attributed the surge of thefts to the economic crisis,
\nwhich since 1997 had forced people who lost their jobs to resort
\nto crime, including stealing logs.<\/p>\n
Perhutani last year made a pretax profit of Rp 356.9 billion
\nfrom total earnings of around Rp 1.9 trillion, he said, adding
\nthat the figures were well above the targets of Rp 246.8 billion
\nfor profit and Rp 1.7 trillion for earnings.<\/p>\n
No corresponding figures for 1999 were immediately available.<\/p>\n
Abas said revenues this year were targeted at Rp 1.8 trillion
\nand profit at Rp 290.9 billion. He did not disclose the reason
\nwhy the targets were lower than the results for 2000.<\/p>\n
\"We could have reaped more profit (in 2000) if illegal logging
\nwas not as rampant,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Perhutani last year retrieved 166,733 cubic meters of timber
\nworth an estimated Rp 79.3 billion through various operations to
\ncombat theft, he said.<\/p>\n
Abas said the thefts were well organized, and involved
\ninsiders as well as police officers. On numerous occasions
\nthieves often disappeared before police arrived at the scene.<\/p>\n
Management and the police have taken steps to contain the
\nproblem, he added.<\/p>\n
Perhutani handles management and conservation of 2,529,183
\nhectares of forests in Java, comprising 1.9 million hectares of
\nproduction forest and 606,367 hectares of protected forest.
\nState-controlled forests outside Java are being managed by PT
\nInhutani. (03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/perhutani-loses-49m-through-theft-1447893297",
"image": ""
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