Concession holders said to mar N. Sumatra forests

Concession holders said to mar N. Sumatra forests

JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen residents of Sosa subdistrict in
Southern Tapanuli, North Sumatra, visited the Indonesian
Environmental Forum (Walhi) office here to report concession
holders they say are damaging protected forests in the region.

"We are here to tell you about the acts of the concession
holders who have damaged the protected forest area for a long
time," Syafri Harahap, one of the residents, told a press
conference organized by Walhi.

Harahap told reporters that the destruction began in 1988 and
has been going on up to now. He said a local state-owned firm, PT
Inhutani IV, and a local private firm, PT Permata Hijau Sawit
(PHS), are responsible.

He said the two firms have abused the timber concessions they
hold by continuously cutting the trees despite the fact that
their operation licenses expired on March 31. They have also
disobeyed the local administration's regulation that the logs are
to be sold for use locally, and have sold them outside of
Tapanuli, he said.

Syarifuddin Hasibuan, another resident, said these illegal
tree cutting activities have caused the local farmers to lose
their crops and precious topsoil due to flooding. (imn)