WWF, Walhi, Jikalahari: “Logging Moratorium for Companies with Questionable Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses”

27 July, 2005

JAKARTA— Today Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Sumatran environmental NGOs, called on all companies who are clearcutting natural forests based on Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses (IUPHHK-HT) issued by Governors or Heads of Districts to immediately issue a moratorium on all such operations. The coalition also called on all companies sourcing timber from such activities to immediately stop all deliveries. The Ministry of Forestry (MoF) is currently reviewing the validity of these licenses. Eyes on the Forest supports the legal review as a very significant step towards the conservation of some of the country’s remaining natural forests. Locally issued licenses have been used to clear large areas of natural forests in disregard of MoF regulations that protected them. More