East Java forests in critical condition

SURABAYA: Twenty-three percent, or 300,000 hectares of forested areas in East Java are in critical condition due to rampant illegal logging, land clearance and the absence of a serious reforestation program, says Governor Imam Utomo.

"I order law enforcers to act against plunderers of forests to stop the rampant illegal logging," he said during the inauguration of a hall belonging to state-owned PT Perhutani here on Thursday.

He said around 150,000 hectares of forested areas in Lumajang and Pasuruan regencies had been deforested because of rampant looting and the absence of a reforestation program.

"The two regencies are likely to be prone to flooding during the rainy season because of the absence of catchment areas," he said.

Subagyo, chief of the local office of Perhutani, concurred and said Perhutani had allocated Rp 40 billion to finance a regreening program in the province. --JP