Birds' habitat in danger

AMBON, Maluku: The forest reserve on the Halmahera island, which is a well-known home to numerous species of birds, is under threat from unchecked logging, a local official said yesterday.

Hings Abdillah Karim, chief of the provincial forestry office, said the logging involves not only villagers but also businessmen and local government officials.

"I was surprised when I visited the forest area recently to find such a dramatic environmental change since my previous visit a few months earlier," Karim was quoted as saying by Antara.

He said he has received a report that a village chief has sold 10 hectares of land adjacent to the protected forest to a Ternate-based businessman.

The entrepreneur has allegedly logged trees within the protected forest as well.

Among the birds that face extinction are those known locally as bidadari. With beautiful feathers they are said to resemble the bird of paradise. (pan)