Indonesia slaps temporary ban on log exports
Copyright 2001 AFX News Limited
October 8, 2001
JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has issued a temporary ban on the export of logs in an attempt to control illegal trade, Antara news agency reported, quoting Forestry Minister M. Prakosa.
"This policy, contained in a joint decree of the forestry minister and the industry and trade minister, will be evaluated in six months to see whether it resulted in a positive or negative impact or was neutral to efforts for sustainable forest management," the minister said.
He said exports of logs already committed would be allowed until the end of this month.
Industry and Trade Minister Rini Suwandi said that much of the illegal trade in logs has been camouflaged as legal exports and therefore her office agreed with the ban, at least for six months.
A halt in the illegal trade of logs, one of the reasons for the rapid deterioriation of Indonesia's tropical forests, has been sought by several international donors to Indonesia, including the World Bank.