FELLING and large-scale illegal ramin timber in Tanjung Putting National Park, Central Kalimantan, has been for the last few years. Although the government in February has promised to prioritize the handling of the case also threatens the survival of wildlife langka_orang utan_di region, the reality is actually rampant looting and destruction.
Behind the proliferation of illegal logging, the timber barons grew stronger with the collusion of government officials. Illegal logging is a well-organized that even the last few months has penetrated into the core area of ​​national parks in which there is a tourist center and the study of typical Indonesian utan_satwa protected. Commercial-scale illegal logging, continue to occur.
Telapak Indonesia (TI) and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) which did a lot of monitoring and research in Tanjung Putting TN states, illegal logging in Tanjung Putting TN performed openly in front of the authorities. â € œRakit-wood raft of illegal logging in hilirkan into the main river channels. In recent months, groups of illegal loggers who are neatly organized and even has penetrated the core area of ​​Tanjung Putting TN where there is a tourist center and research orangutanâ €?, Said A. Ruwindrijarto of Telapak Indonesia.
TN Tanjung Putting is one of the three protected forest which is the habitat of orangutan. Orangutans are only in Borneo and Sumatra. 1994 in TN promontory Putting tail number about 2,000 orangutans. Now, after the forest was plundered, its population was only about 500 head only. If the state is left, said Ruwindrijarto, soon disappeared from Tanjug Putting orangutans. In fact, one of the most exotic animals admired foreign tourists in Borneo is the orangutan.
August last year, IT and the EIA has actually launched a campaign â € œFinal Cutâ €? to stop the illegal logging. What happened? The campaign was ignored illegal loggers who have extensive networks.
Recent reports about illegal logging was submitted to President Abdurrahman Wahid at Bina Graha. In a meeting also attended by Minister of Forestry and Plantation (Menhutbun) Nurmahmudi Ismail, Ruwindrijarto clear, the President expressed support for the campaign being waged both non-governmental organizations, and he would ensure the cessation of operation of timber barons who benefited from illegal logging in the park . â € œPemerintah will also establish a temporary halt to exports of ramin wood from Indonesia, â €? he said.
Meanwhile, due to illegal logging in Tanjung Putting TN, places of tourism in the town of Kumai Pangkalanbun and adjacent to the park begins to break down. â € œSektor tours in the vicinity of national parks visitors has fallen sharply due to damage to forests in Tanjung Putting, â €? said Dave Currey, EIA director. Therefore, independent non-profit institutions have urged the government to fulfill its promise to immediately stop the illegal logging around the area of ​​Tanjung Putting National Park and close the timber mills (saw mill) the processing illegal timber from these locations.
(Source: Kompas and Republika 31 / 7. This paper ever published in the News Vo