Birds' habitat in danger

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)