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