The Indonesian government’s programme to build industrial timber estates to take pressure off natural forests has failed, a national forestry meeting has heard.
Despite 167 licences being issued for estate projects covering 7.76 million hectares, only 51 have been operating, with 32 at below the normal level and the rest in poor condition, according to the Indonesian Ecolabel Institute.
The institute, which calls for more efforts against illegal logging, says the government is now expected to focus on restructuring the timber processing industry to preserve natural forests.
