Illegal logging in conservation area

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)