BOGOR: Protected forests in Bogor, such as those on the slopes
of Mt. Salak, Mt. Pangrango and Mt. Pongkor, are being destroyed
by illegal logging and mining, an expert says.
Dudung Darusman, a professor of forestry from the Bogor
Institute of Agriculture, said illegal logging was rampant in the
protected forest on Mt. Pangrango, while geothermal gas extraction
is taking place in the forest on Mt. Salak. The forest on the
slopes of Mt. Pongkor is disappearing due to illegal gold mining,
he said on Thursday on the sidelines of a workshop on forestry.
The institute, in cooperation with state forestry company
Perhutani, has launched a regreening program involving locals, who
are expected to take an active part in the management of the
forests. But the efforts will not help much if the government does
not take firm action to curb illegal logging and mining
activities, according to Dudung.--JP
