PEKANBARU (EoF News)—New approval to natural forest clearing issued by the Minister of Forestry recently sparked criticism and protest by environmental as well as local community groups in Riau province, media reported Wednesday.

PEKANBARU (EoF News)— The Ministry of Forestry allowed pulp and paper industry to source its raw material from natural forest that annulled the government’s scenario to end the sourcing by year 2009 as a Minister of Forestry Decree stipulated in 2004.

PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban blamed detained Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar over allegedly issuing 15 logging licenses to companies and insisted his decision to grant verification for pulp and paper companies in Riau, media reported yesterday (8/4/2008).

Pekanbaru (EoF News)—Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told the Forestry Minister, Malam Sambat Kaban, and other officials not to excessively issue more logging licenses to prevent worse deforestation, media reports said. Many forestry concession holders are irresponsible including the pulpwood businessmen, he said.

Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- The acquittal of illegal logging defendant in North Sumatra, Adelin Lis, was marred with protests as further legal actions prepared to nab the man at large.

Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- The Riau Police Office has reportedly submitted a request to the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to summon Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban as the witness over issuance of 17 licenses of Selective Logging Concession in the province, a newspaper said.