Illegal logging rampant in Central Java

Illegal logging rampant in Central Java

JAKARTA (JP): An environmental watchdog revealed on Monday
that ramin timber (Gonystylus spp.) was still traded and
illegally distributed at the Tanjung Emas seaport in Semarang the
capital of Central Java, despite the government's decision to ban
its trade and logging.

The Independent Institute for Social Studies and Analysis
(Lintas) chairman Amirhan Adjung criticized the government and
the police for failing to stop what he dubbed a well-organized
crime which caused some Rp 6 billion in losses to the state in
one month.

Illegal logging activities occur in many forests in the
country, including Sumatra and Kalimantan.

Amirhan said that in one month between 60 to 100 vessels, each
carrying between 300 and 1,000 cubic meters of timber, including
ramin, enter the Tanjung Emas seaport. Since February there have
been 40 cases reported to the police, none of which have been
investigated.

He alleged that the ministry of forestry, the police and
public actually knew who were behind the illegal timber
trafficking, but no action had been taken.

"We have information that the coordinator pays a 'security
fee' amounting to Rp 100,000 for every cubic meter of the logs,"
he added.

Since April 11, the Minister of Forestry Marzuki Usman has
banned the logging, trade and industry of the valuable ramin
timber.

Widely-used for furniture and other household goods, also to
make billiards cues, every cubic meter of ramin is worth up to
US$1,000 on the international market.

The ministry had also recommended that tropical wood species
be included as an endangered species of flora at the Convention
on International Trade on Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and
Flora (CITES)' secretariat in Switzerland.

With this convention, which will take effect next July,
foreign countries may confiscate ramin entering their market from
Indonesia.

Amirhan expressed hope that the government and the law
enforcers enhanced efforts to combat illegal logging and
distribution.

"Not only does it inflict losses on state earnings,
uncontrolled logging spells disaster for the environment... and
a loss to the next generation," he said. (bby)