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