The proceeds from the auction of logs seized from illegal loggers will be used entirely for the rehabilitation of national forests which have been badly damaged, Forestry Minister MS Kaban said here Thursday.
Speaking at a workshop on the eradication of illegal logging here, he made it clear that the funds derived from the auction of illegal logs in Riau will be delivered to areas in the province through land and forest rehabilitation programs.
However, the operation to eradicate illegal logging is aimed at uncovering the perpetrators of timber thefts to end this malpractice rather than collecting funds, he said.
Besides the forestry minister, head of the criminal investigation body of the Indonesian Police Makbul Padmanegara also was a key speaker in the workshop which was organized by the Riau provincial administration, in cooperation with the Riau Police and students.
On the occasion, Makbul discussed law enforcement in the eradication of illegal logging and the main impediments hampering efforts to end timber thefts in Indonesian forests.
Riau Governor Rusli Zainal explained the task and role of the illegal logging eradication team at the workshop.Asia Pulse via Yahoo News
