Indonesia’s forestry minister has declared war against illegal loggers in a bid to halt destruction of the country’s forests.
Minister Malam Sambat Kaban said a guaranteed wood supply could only be maintained for another 15 years if illegal logging continued to damage at least 2.8 million ha of forests every year.
Mr Kaban said 1,200 illegal bulldozers had been detected in Papua, which were capable of clearing 2,400ha of forest daily.
Forestry officials also recently discovered a 6km-long line of log rafts being smuggled out of the country.
The ministry has withdrawn 172 forest concessions and improved the capabilities of forest police in its effort to thwart the thieves.
