The Indonesian military is deeply involved in the trade in illegally felled timber that is destroying vast tracts of pristine forest and contributing to global warming, researchers said Friday.

The report comes days after the government revealed plans to ask foreign governments to contribute to a billion-dollar "green investment fund" to help it cut greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable infrastructure projects.

Environmentalists argue that the government could go a long way towards meeting its target of cutting emissions by 26 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 simply by stopping rampant, unchecked illegal logging.

But the new study by the Center for East Asia Cooperation Studies (CEACoS) at the University of Indonesia has revealed how difficult this could be given the military's involvement in the illicit trade.

CEACoS executive director Tirta N. Mursitama, the head researcher in the project, said the military acted as a coordinator, investor, facilitator and middleman for the illegal loggers in forests bordering Malaysia.

"Military personnel from low ranked soldiers to territorial commanders were involved in the practice of illegal logging in the border areas," he told AFP.

"The military personnel acted as coordinators, investors and people who deliberately failed to monitor the flow of logging transport."

The study covered the period between 1999 and 2006 in East Kalimantan, on the Indonesian side of Borneo where forests are being stripped for timber products and palm oil plantations faster than anywhere else in the world.

Mursitama said some high-ranking officers received kickbacks from subordinates involved in illegal logging, while others fostered close relationships with the "cukong," or godfathers of the business.

Other levels of involvement included direct investment in logging companies, and taking bribes for arranging logging permits from the forestry ministry.

A military spokesman said he had not seen the study and could not comment, but promised to "follow up" on its findings.