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