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Asian nations in talks to address timber smuggling

JAKARTA - Delegates from Asian timber-producing and -consuming countries have gathered in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, for the third Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) meeting from Wednesday to Friday to discuss the problems of illegal logging and log smuggling, an Indonesian Forestry Ministry official said.

During the AFP, Indonesia would propose the formation of a measured partnership to take concrete actions, especially to deal with forest destruction, Transtoto Handhadari, head of the Forestry Information Center, said here on Monday.

The two global issues in forestry as well as sustainable forest management would become the focus of the AFP meeting, he said.

"Forest certification could be used as a media to cope with illegal logging, forest fires and smoke pollution in border areas, and encourage rehabilitation and reforestation," Transtoto said.

Both producers and consumers in addition to the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) can use the AFP as a forum to discuss regional forestry issues, he said.

"Moreover, Malaysia which had previously always tended to avoid talks on illegal log trading in various international forums, has now joined the AFP," Transtoto added.

The third AFP meeting is being attended by 130 delegates from 16 countries, including Japanese Senior Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Ichiro Ichikawa and five members of Japan's parliament.

The results of the AFP meeting will be forwarded to its fourth formal meeting in Tokyo as well as an ITTO meeting in Yokohama in December.

(Asia Pulse/Antara)

Sep 1, 2004

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