Teak plunders hit Cilacap, Banyumas

Teak plunders hit Cilacap, Banyumas

CILACAP (JP): About 300 villagers from Cilacap and Banyumas
regencies plundered a teak plantation on Tuesday, resulting in a
loss of Rp 200 million (US$23,529), the plantation's management
said.

Eastern Banyumas Teak Plantation Head Hasan Pamuji said that
the villagers had taken 662 teak and angsana trees from an area
of 49.3 hectares.

"The thefts have been going on since Aug. 5 and they are still
going on now," Hasan said, adding that they had incurred a loss
of Rp 200 million as the trees were an average of 15 years of age
or more.

He said illegal logging in the area was serious as it was
occurring almost every day without any indication from concerned
agencies that the problem would be solved.

He admitted his office was facing difficulties in tackling the
problem as there were many individuals involved, while the
plantation had only 10 forest security guards.