Illegal logging threatens Tanjung Puting park: Report

JAKARTA (JP): Environmental destruction resulting from illegal logging is continuing in the Tanjung Puting National Park in Central Kalimantan, non-governmental organizations revealed on Wednesday.

Telapak Indonesia (TI) and the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) discovered in their recent joint investigation that logging gangs have invaded the core of the park and are looting at least 60,000 cubic meters of timber every month, especially the profitable ramin (gonystylus bancanus) tree species.

"They have begun switching to other timber species like meranti (shorea platycados) as most of the ramin has been logged out," EIA Director Dave Currey told reporters.

Illegal log rafts are still being blatantly towed down the park's main waterways, according to the investigation team.

The investigation began last August when the two NGOs launched a campaign against illicit logging called "The Final Cut".

EIA/TI also reported detailed events in Tanjung Puting, including the alleged abduction and assault on TI director A. Ruwindrijarto and EIA expert Faith Doherty during their visit to the plantation area in January, by timber baron Abdul Rasyid's men. Both Doherty and Ruwindrijarto were released after three days following mediation by the British Embassy.

Rasyid, owner of the Tanjung Lingga Group logging company, has strongly denied the accusation and instead has accused the two environmentalists of trespassing on his property.

Rasyid, who is also a People's Consultative Assembly legislator from the Golkar party, is reported to have bought not only stolen logs from Tanjung Puting, but illegally-obtained logs from logging concessions, and is alleged to process at least 60 percent of stolen logs in the area.

"Despite the evidences, there has been no real action by the government against him," Currey said.

EIA/TI presented their reports to President Abdurrahman Wahid during a 90-minute meeting with him on Tuesday. Minister of Forestry and Plantations Nur Mahmudi Ismail was present at the meeting.

Currey said that the President wished to see that the timber barons would no longer profit from illegal logging, and pledged his commitment to the suspension of timber exports.

Environmental activists have said that illegal logging in Indonesia has now reached catastrophic levels, with 70 percent of the timber processed in Indonesia being derived from illegal sources.

Tanjung Puting is one of only three protected areas in Indonesia, where orangutan (pongo pygmaeus) and three sub-species of orangutans are found in sufficient numbers to ensure long-term viability.

But the primate's population in the park could now be as low as 500, compared with around 2,000 in 1994. (09)