Logging threatens Muller range

MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: The Muller mountain range, stretching from North Barito regency in Central Kalimantan to East Kalimantan and Sarawak in Malaysia, is in danger of being destroyed by the expanding logging activities of forest concessionaires.

Antara reported that based on the latest aerial photography, logging by concession holders had already encroached into the southern part of the Muller range.

North Barito Regent H. Badaruddin suggested in Muara Teweh on Monday that the central government propose to Unesco that the Muller mountain range be declared a world natural heritage site.

The regent also suggested that the provincial administrations of West and East Kalimantan discuss the matter comprehensively with the Sarawak government as nearly all the major rivers in the three regions had their sources in the Muller range.

"North Barito is committed to refraining from large scale forest exploitation so as to maintain Muller as one of the world's great nature reserves," added Badaruddin. --Antara