'World demand increases illegal logging'

'World demand increases illegal logging'

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri blames the mounting
international demand for logs as the main cause of rampant
illegal logging activities in the country.

"The increased demand for wood in the international market,
the higher production of wood-based furniture products and the
extension of wood-related industries, inevitably trigger illegal
logging," Megawati said in her speech delivered as part of the
celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Centre for
International Forestry Research (CIFOR) on Monday.

She regretted, however, that the country struggled to prevent
such activities.

"Admittedly, one of the problems we are encountering is our
limited ability to resolve and settle illegal logging.
Nevertheless, we continually endeavor to put an end to this
problem," she said at the Bogor Presidential Palace, some 60
kilometers south of Jakarta.

Megawati underlined that there should be a shift of
perception, from viewing the forest as a natural resource that
could be exploited, to one that should be preserved and
protected.

Illegal logging activities produce 50.7 million cubic meters
of timber annually, resulting in financial losses to the state of
at least Rp 30.42 trillion (US$3.37 billion).

At least 1.45 million hectares of forest are felled annually,
but only 0.67 million hectares are legally felled.

Illegal logging has become one of the country's major problems
as it has ruined Indonesia's rain forests and the quality of the
environment in general.

In many areas, illegal logging activities have also involved
government officials and individuals from the military.

The government is attempting to get as many countries as
possible to sign an agreement, restricting them from receiving
illegal logs from Indonesia.

Data issued by the Indonesian Forum for the Environment
(Walhi) showed that even the domestic demand for logs was far
exceeding the capacity of the country's forestry industry.

The total capacity of domestic pulp mills, sawmills, and
plywood factories stands at 63 million cubic meters per year,
while the total legal timber produced is 12 million cubic meters
per year, meaning there is an annual shortage of almost 51
million cubic meters of timber.

And to make matters worse, the illegal timber is largely
exported to neighboring countries, including Malaysia, Vietnam,
China and India.

So far, China and some European countries, including Germany,
have signed such an agreement. However, several neighboring
countries -- who gain the most from the practices -- remain
reluctant to join the deal.

Indonesian Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa said Monday that
Malaysia, Singapore and China were the countries that received
the biggest supply of illegal logs from Indonesia.

The Chinese government signed a deal in December last year,
prohibiting all Chinese companies from receiving illegal logs
from Indonesia.

"Malaysia has agreed to begin bilateral talks regarding the
agreement as it is our common responsibility to stop such
practices," Prakosa said.

Prakosa said the meeting would happen soon but was not more
specific.

The only country that has not yet responded to the call is
Singapore, despite the fact that Indonesia has repeatedly urged
the country to stop receiving illegal logs.

"If we can get Malaysia and Singapore to agree with us, we can
cut the demand for logs," the minister said after the ceremony.