Govt to curb forest exploitation

Govt to curb forest exploitation

JAKARTA: The office of the state minister of the environment
pledged to follow up President Megawati Soekarnoputri's recent
call for an end to the exploitation of the nation's forests.

The ministry said in a press release here on Friday that it
would enhance cooperation with the Ministry of Forestry and other
relevant offices to stop the rampant destruction of the country's
protected forests.

The ministry said that, along with other relevant ministries,
it would announce several steps to be taken to stop the
widespread practice of illegal logging.

The measures included not extending government licenses to
companies whose forest concessions have expired, evaluating
concessions held by timber companies, and improving the social
welfare of people living close to forests by providing them with
farmland. -- Antara