Govt weighs logging moratorium in Java

Govt weighs logging moratorium in Java

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim said on Friday
that his ministry was considering imposing a logging moratorium
in Java to prevent extensive natural disasters.

"We're now collecting data as to whether or not it is
necessary to implement such a moratorium," Makarim told
reporters.

He also said that his ministry was still seeking evidence to
arrest those persons responsible for various environmental
disasters on the island.

Natural disasters have been rife in Java this year due to
massive forest destruction caused by illegal logging activities.

Massive flooding in Jakarta early this year and a landslide in
Padusan of Pacet, East Java, that killed over 30 people, are
among the natural catastrophes that have shocked the general
public.

Many have blamed the government for its reluctance and
inability in taking legal action against illegal loggers who have
destroyed the forests.

Some, however, believed that legal action against illegal
loggers was not the solution, saying that illegal loggers could
only be stopped by providing them with alternative jobs.

Analysts said that the forest area in Java was only 3 million
hectares, or 23 percent of the total size of the island, less
than 30 percent of the minimum size set by Law No. 41/1999 on
forestry.

Makarim went on to say that his ministry would not only
consider environmental destruction but also the impact of the
moratorium on timber businesses.

Forest Watch Indonesia director Togu Manurung said he would
support the logging moratorium if the government was serious
about taking legal action against illegal loggers.

"Otherwise, the moratorium will be useless," he said.

Togu said the government had so far failed to prove that it
was serious in combating illegal logging, as deforestation still
continued at an annual rate of 2 million hectares.

"I prefer that the logging moratorium is imposed upon all
forests in the country, not only on Java," he said.

A number of non-governmental organizations had called on the
government a few years ago to implement a national logging
moratorium, but the government disagreed with the call, and
planned only to reduce the capacity of logging activities of
plywood companies.

Togu went on to say that the moratorium plan might face
resistance from local administrations as they would lose income
from the industry and suffer higher unemployment.