Tree DNA marker may curb illegal logging<\/p>\n
Fabio Scarpello, Contributor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia's massive illegal logging problems are a subject of
\nmuch attention worldwide, and with very little being done to curb
\nit, a new high-tech tool, using DNA markers, may be the answer.<\/p>\n
Luca Tacconi and Giovanni Vendramin are two of the top experts
\non the new technique, and are taking part in the Indonesian-
\nItalian workshop on "Wood research and industrial needs for the
\nforestry wood sector" to be held here from May 17 to May 19.<\/p>\n
The workshop falls under the umbrella of the 2004-2007
\nExecutive Program of Science and Technological cooperation
\nbetween Indonesia and Italy, and is jointly organized by the
\nIndonesian Ministry of Research and Technology (Ristek) and the
\nEmbassy of Italy in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
According to a joint report presented by the London-based
\nEnvironmental Investigative Agency (EIA) and the Bogor-based
\nTelepak, deforestation in Indonesia claimed two million hectares
\nof forest in 2002.<\/p>\n
This is a rather optimistic estimate compared with Forest
\nWatch Indonesia's (FWI) belief that 4.1 million hectares of
\nforest was laid to waste in 2003, up from 3.8 million hectares in
\n2000. Everybody, including the government's forestry department,
\nagrees that 80 percent of deforestation is illegal. Unless the
\ntrend is inverted, the World Bank predicts that by 2010 there
\nwon't be any forest left in Kalimantan and North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
Undoubtedly, the war against illegal logging is not a war
\nIndonesia should and can fight alone, and the world at large
\nneeds to take part. The G8 -- a group of the eight most
\nindustrialized countries -- consumes 74 percent of the world's
\nforestry product exports, but is often unconcerned about its
\nsource.<\/p>\n
Accidentally, according to EIA, Italy is Europe's main
\nimporter of illegally logged wood and especially ramin, an
\nendangered tree growing in Indonesia and Malaysia. In Italy, it
\nis used to make picture frames, for which the country is the
\nworld leader.<\/p>\n
However, Indonesia's main grievance rests with Malaysia and
\nSingapore, which are accused of importing Indonesian logs and
\nbreaching a ban in place since October 2001.<\/p>\n
On 10 May, President Megawati was quoted by The Jakarta Post
\nas saying that it was difficult to fight the widespread illegal
\nlogging across Indonesia, and neighboring countries were to blame
\nfor encouraging the problem. This, and similar comments made by
\nother politicians, do not convince Doctor Luca Tacconi.<\/p>\n
Tacconi is a Senior Economist at the Center for International
\nForestry Research (CIFOR) in Bogor. His knowledge of local
\nenvironmental issues adds weight to his doubts.<\/p>\n
"Every time illegal logging is discussed, the Indonesian
\ngovernment claims that the area to patrol is too big and that
\nneighbors are not helping. This is an easy way out. I am not
\ndoubting the difficulty of the task faced by Indonesia. What I am
\ndoubting is the government's approach and focus and whether there
\nis a real political will to stop the problem," Tacconi said.<\/p>\n
According to Tacconi, by far the largest quantity of illegal
\nlogging is used in Indonesia. He firmly points the finger at pulp
\nand plywood industries: "In 2001, pulp and plywood industries
\nproduced goods that required the use of some 50 million cubic
\nmetres of timber -- above the maximum annual harvest set by the
\ngovernment, which currently stands at 6.5 million cubic meters.
\nIt is obvious that this was illegally harvested. On this basis,
\nwhy isn't the government focusing its efforts on these sectors?"
\nTacconi asked.<\/p>\n
To enforce Tacconi's point, eight out of eight sawmills that
\nwere randomly inspected by the Ministry of Forestry in a recent
\nprogram were found to be using illegally logged timber.<\/p>\n
Tacconi added: "Indonesia's 100 million hectares of forest are
\nimpossible to patrol, and the government would be more effective
\nin monitoring the mills rather than the forest. There are 14 pulp
\npaper mills and between 50 to 80 plywood mills which together use
\n73 percent of the total timber harvested in Indonesia. If the
\ngovernment placed guards at their gates and checked the documents
\nof the incoming timber, it would achieve better results."<\/p>\n
Ways to detect the source of timber range from the rudimentary
\nstamping of each log, to the high-tech bar coding currently run
\nas a pilot project in East Kalimantan. At the workshop, Vendramin
\nspoke of the possibility of using DNA markers to identify
\ncommercial timber and its origin.<\/p>\n
Vendramin is a researcher at the Institute of Plant Genetics
\nin Florence, Italy. Scientific jargon aside, he said to "think of
\nit as a DNA test to assert the paternity of a child. We take a
\nDNA sample from the man and the child and see if they match. The
\nonly difference when it comes to trees, is that we need to create
\na database of tree DNA beforehand.<\/p>\n
Once that is done, the process is easy. We take samples of
\nwood or manufactured wood products worldwide, and match them with
\nthe DNA markers in the database. In this way we will know where
\nit comes from, and if the area was earmarked for harvest."<\/p>\n
The advantage of such a method is that it may help to set up
\nbetter controlling systems that can be used by exporting as well
\nas importing countries, and by public agencies as well as the
\nprivate sector. The disadvantage is that it is still rather
\nexpensive and would require a consistent investment.<\/p>\n
"Prices are coming down fast, and together with other
\norganizations we are lobbying the European Union (EU) to adopt it
\nas a standard control method," Vendramin added.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, the EU has long been involved in a concerted
\neffort to limit illegal logging. In the last decade, help has
\nbeen provided in the form of more than 100 million Euros with
\nextra funds recently allocated.<\/p>",
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