Illegal logging threatens Tanjung Puting park: Report

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)