'Foreign mafia' eyes Papua trees

Wed, 17 Sep 2003, 00:00 WIB | Source: ANTARA

MANOKWARI, Papua: A nongovernmental organization Forest Watch
Indonesia (FWI) has warned against the presence of a "foreign
mafia" said to be aiming to cut down Papuan forests as many of
the forested areas in western parts of Indonesia have been
largely denuded.

FWI Executive Director Togu Manurung said on Tuesday the group
has been lobbying Papuan authorities to give them the green light
for illegal logging in the province's rainforests.

The country's forests are in critical condition in many areas
mainly as a result of illegal logging with the deforestation rate
reaching about 2.4 million hectares per year. -- Antara

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