Illegal logging in conservation area

JAMBI, Jambi (JP): Illegal logging at the Bukit Dua Belas National Park here has become rampant despite the fact that the park was declared a protected area by President Abdurrahman Wahid in January this year.

Quoting unconfirmed reports, Erdi Taufik, chairman of the Communication and Conservation Center, a local non-governmental organization dealing with environmental affairs, said that at least 200 cubic meters of logs had been illegally cut and sold without proper documents.

"These activities have become a serious threat to the conservation area. Hundreds of trees are cut and taken out of the area everyday, while the conservation park only covers a total of 60.5 hectares," Erdi said, adding that anyone entering the park would soon hear the chain saws buzzing.

He said that the illegal loggers were mostly residents of 22 villages around the park.

"Stern action must be taken to deal with the illegal logging, or the conservation area will disappear in just a short time".

The legal plywood industry in the province of Jambi requires a total of 3.8 million cubic meters of timber, while the local forests can supply only about 1.1. million cubic meters.

Thus, the factories need an additional 2.7 million cubic meters, and this has apparently prompted the villagers to cut the trees in the park.

But the plywood factories deny this.

Ateng, an official with a local plywood factory, said to The Jakarta Post that while the factories needed more logs, they refused to source them from illegal loggers. "We don't want illegal logs," he stressed. (33)