Road to aid, abet illegal loggers

Road to aid, abet illegal loggers

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: An environmental group expressed fears that the proposed construction of a highway connecting Balikpapan and two neighboring regencies would affect a protected forest.

The road is designed to provide greater access to the western part of the Sungai Wain Forest Reserve.

Coordinator of the Alliance for Resource Policies Monitoring (APKSA) Abrianto Amin said on Thursday the road could encourage forest over-exploitation and illegal logging.

"The road will enable the criminals to easily transport the logs," Abrianto lamented.

He suggested that the local administration carry out campaigns for forest conservation by, among other measures, inserting environmental issues at schools. -- Antara