Rampant Illegal Logging in Indonesia's National Parks Confirmed
8/26/99
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by EE
As reported here over the past few months, Indonesia's economic
difficulties have spilled over into its National Parks. Illegal
logging appears to be frequent and widespread. Following is an
account of an investigate report on the matter. The full report can
be found at http://eia-international.org .
g.b.
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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: ENVIRONMENTAL INVESTIGATORS EXPOSE RAMPANT ILLEGAL LOGGING IN
INDONESIA'S NATIONAL PARKS
Source: Environmental Investigation Agency
Dave Currey (Jakarta)
Tel: +62 812 916 9290
Hapsoro (Bogor)
Tel: +62 251 382805
Fax: +62 251 351069
Julian Newman (London)
Tel: +44 171 490 7040
Fax: +44 171 490 0436
Status: Distribute freely with credit given to source
Date: August 24, 1999
Jakarta, 24 August 1999 (EIA/Telapak): - Massive illegal logging in
Indonesia's flagship National Parks is threatening the survival of a
host of endangered species including the orangutan, according to a new
report published by the Environmental Investigation Agency and Telapak
Indonesia today.
EIA/Telapak's report - The Final Cut: Illegal Logging in Indonesia's
Orangutan Parks - is the result of five site investigations in two of
Indonesia's most important parks; Tanjung Puting in Central Kalimantan
and Gunung Leuser in northern Sumatra.
Both parks provide a haven for a stunning array of biodiversity and
are world-renowned centres for orangutan research. Both are being
destroyed by commercial-scale logging. The EIA/Telapak report
describes virtual anarchy in the parks, shows how corrupt officials
have allowed the logging to escalate, and names the timber bosses
profiting from the theft.
Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta today, EIA Director Dave
Currey said: "I have witnessed scenes of appalling devastation in
both of these so-called protected parks. The logging is totally out of
control. The government of Indonesia must act against the timber
barons directing this destruction before these vital areas and their
wildlife are lost."
The investigators found Tanjung Puting National Park to be riddled
with logging camps and an extensive network of wooden rails used for
dragging the timber out. In the east of the park a logging road has
been built and trucks are used to remove the illegal timber. Steel
barges were observed loaded with illegal wood, and investigators
tracked the timber to local sawmills and factories.
In Gunung Leuser National Park EIA/Telapak witnessed loggers with
chainsaws operating in the Suaq Balimbing research area, which
provides prime orangutan habitat and is the only place where these
apes have been observed using tools.
EIA/Telapak are launching a campaign to halt the illegal logging in
Indonesia's National Parks. They are calling on the government of
Indonesia to take action against the timber bosses behind the logging
and for the replacement of the local authorities who have presided
over the devastation of these parks.
Illegal logging is now greater than legal timber production in
Indonesia. EIA/Telapak are campaigning for genuine reform of the
forest sector and the involvement of local communities as the only
long-term solution to stop illegal logging and preserve Indonesia's
remaining forests and wildlife.
Abdon Nababan, Co-ordinator of Forest Watch Indonesia-Telapak said:
"EIA and Telapak are calling on international donors to Indonesia to
insist that action is taken to stop illegal logging and for real
reform of the forest sector to benefit local communities."
Notes to Editors
* Indonesia contains ten per cent of the world's remaining tropical
forests.
* Over 70 per cent of Indonesia's original frontier forests have been
lost.
* Around 60 million people in Indonesia depend on the forests for
their livelihood
* Indonesia's has the longest list of threatened species in the world,
including the orangutan, Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhino, and Asian
elephant.
* Wild orangutan numbers have fallen by 50 per cent in the last decade
and only between 15-25,000 are left.
* Indonesia is home to 80 per cent of the world's remaining
orangutans.
* Habitat loss poses the greatest threat to orangutan survival. Around
80 per cent of the orangutan's forest habitat has been destroyed in
the last two decades.
* Tanjung Puting National Park provides the only protected orangutan
habitat in Central Kalimantan. It is the site of Professor Birute
Galdikas' 25-year research project into orangutan behaviour.
* Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra contains orangutans,
Sumatran tigers, clouded leopards and sun bears.
* A report by the Indonesia-UK Tropical Forest Management Programme
found illegal logging to be greater than legal timber production in
Indonesia.
* EIA is an independent environmental non-profit group based in London
and Washington DC.
* Telapak is an independent environmental non-profit group based in
Bogor, Indonesia.
A broadcast quality video news release (Beta SP), still photographic
transparencies and copies of the report are available. Text of the
report is available online at the http://eia-international.org site.