Wood plundering rampant in W. Sumatra

Wood plundering rampant in W. Sumatra

PADANG, West Sumatra: Rampant plundering of wood has cost West
Sumatra province about Rp 2.5 billion per month, Governor Zainal
Bakar said on Friday.

"I have received reports from several organizations about
people who have plundered the wood. I am studying it. It must be
stopped," the governor said.

It has been reported that the culprits work for a syndicate
that is backed by several officials and security personnel, he
said.

"We are preparing a movement to bust the network," chief of
Forest Protection and Nature Conservatory Horas Siregar said. He
acknowledged it was difficult to catch the culprits as the
practice of illegal forest exploitation had been going on for
quite some time. (28/edt)