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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

Rampant Illegal Logging in Indonesia's National Parks Confirmed

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

http://forests.org/ -- Forest Conservation Archives

http://forests.org/web/ -- Discuss Forest Conservation

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.

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