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.