Indonesia, Malaysia to cooperate in tackling illegal logging

Antara 20 Oct 10;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said Tuesday Malaysia is ready to have talks with Indonesia on bilateral trade in timber amid increased allegations that the neighboring state had been receiving Indonesian timber from illegal logging.

"I have met with the Malaysian side and they said `zero tolerance` to timbers from illegal logging and smuggling. Hopefully, we will sign a memorandum of understanding with them (on the issue)," said Minister Hasan.

He added that illegal logging had caused Indonesia huge financial losses as well as deforestation.

The minister also said that when visited China, he got information from Chinese timber business circle that they still received timbers (merbau wood) from Malaysia and Singapore.

As Indonesia has signed a cooperation agreement for eradicating trade of timbers supplied from illegal logging activities, now illegal logging has decreased significantly. China now does not want to receive uncertified merbau woods from the suppliers.

Efforts on putting pressure to trade of timber from illegal logging activities, according to Hasan, has shown positive progress that it has increasingly been difficult to sell uncertified timbers. Indonesia has issued a policy of subjecting the trade on timber legality verification system (SVLK) since September 1, 2010.

Three Indonesian companies which have been certified to export timber based on the system are PD Sinar Agung (Tangerang), PT Karya Guna Ekatama (Pasuruan) and PT Tanjung Timberindo Industry (Deli Serdang).

World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), in its position paper on illegal logging, says that the global trade in roundwood, paper, furniture, and other products originating from illegally extracted timber is a multi-million dollar industry. Illegal logging and related trade occurs when timber is harvested, transported, processed, bought or sold in violation of national or sub-national laws.

Although generally portrayed as a problem in tropical forests, illegality also occurs in developed countries and economies in transition. Illegal logging takes place in many countries on a small scale and may have limited impact on the environment or society in general.

Illegal logging has a particularly devastating effect on biodiversity because the perpetrators often deliberately target remaining high-conservation-value forests, including protected areas, which contain the highly valuable hardwood species that have been overexploited elsewhere.

Illegal logging also affects human communities through loss of natural forest resources and sometimes through intimidation and violence. The hundreds of millions of dollars of tax revenues lost around the world as a result of illegal logging and related trade also has a wider social impact. (*)