Fire destroys teak forest

KENDAL, Central Java: Fire has swept across 900 hectares of the 7,000 hectares of forests in this regency.

"The majority of the forested area destroyed consisted of teak trees," said Rusmadi, head of the local office of the state forestry company, Perhutani.

He said he was still hopeful some of the trees can be saved and the area reforested with the coming of the rainy season although the quality of the teak won't be as good.

Perhutani employs local people to act as forest rangers, but fires still occur largely because proper equipment is not available, Rusmadi said.

The fires were started either because of human neglect or the prolonged dry spell, he added. (har/emb)