Mobs loot 8,000 hectare forest

Mobs loot 8,000 hectare forest

SEMARANG: About 8,000 hectares of teakwood forest in Blora
regency of Central Java have been looted by local residents so
far this year, an official said Monday.

"The groups usually brandish weapons during their operation
and they do not hesitate to resist arrest if any official tries
to stop them," Blora Forest chief Bambang Kartono said, adding
that the regency has around 33,000 hectares of teakwood forest.

Bambang said people no longer ransacked the forest based on
urgent economic needs but merely because they want to enrich
themselves with luxury goods.

"They don't care about the environment and security seems to
be hopeless to stop them. It'll take years to rehabilitate the
forest," he added.

Timber theft is also rampant in Central Java regency of
Cilacap. (har/edt)