Protected forests in Bogor shrinking

Protected forests in Bogor shrinking

BOGOR: Protected forests in Bogor, such as those on the slopes
of Mt. Salak, Mt. Pangrango and Mt. Pongkor, are being destroyed
by illegal logging and mining, an expert says.

Dudung Darusman, a professor of forestry from the Bogor
Institute of Agriculture, said illegal logging was rampant in the
protected forest on Mt. Pangrango, while geothermal gas
extraction is taking place in the forest on Mt. Salak. The forest
on the slopes of Mt. Pongkor is disappearing due to illegal gold
mining, he said on Thursday on the sidelines of a workshop on
forestry.

The institute, in cooperation with state forestry company
Perhutani, has launched a regreening program involving locals,
who are expected to take an active part in the management of the
forests. But the efforts will not help much if the government
does not take firm action to curb illegal logging and mining
activities, according to Dudung.--JP