Jakarta – The Eyes on the Forest (EoF) environmental group published their latest investigative report on Tuesday into deforestation in Sumatra, especially Riau, following environmental crime disclosures in high-conservation value forest (HCVF) areas.
"In this edition, we highlight the clearing of natural forests with high-conservation values allegedly perpetrated by PT Triomas Forestry Development Indonesia as one raw-material supplying company for the pulp and paper industry in Indonesia," said Riau Forest Rescue Working Network (Jikalahari) coordinator Muslim Rasyid on Tuesday as quoted by Antara.
He said the investigation had revealed excessive crimes allegedly conducted by PT Triomas, such as clearing HCVF areas it had committed to preserving in 2005.
Muslim said the findings highlighted that the implementation of sustainable forest-management policies conducted by forestry companies in Indonesia was still in doubt.
He said although the EoF investigation did not catch Triomas red-handed carrying out forest-clearing activities in its concession areas in Kampar Peninsula, Jikalahari had new evidence of continuous forest clearing.
The NGO's previous investigation which found evidence about the logging of ramin trees, a species protected by international conservation institutions, had also called the credibility of the company's commitment to environment conservation declared at the end of January into doubt.
"There is still a long way to go for the pulp and paper industry to prove that it is more than merely 'green washing'. It is crucial for Triomas to assert it is serious about its sustainable forest management policy. Therefore, restoring forest areas identified as HCVF in the company's concession areas is a must," said Nursamsu of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Indonesia. (ebf)