In the wake of the deaths of six people from tiger attacks in Sumatra’s Jambi Province in less than a month, conservationists are calling for an urgent crackdown on the clearing of natural forest in the province as a matter of public safety.

Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- Pelalawan District administration is accused of supporting rampant encroachment practice in proposed Tesso Nilo National Park as it issued KTP identified cards for encroachers originating from other provinces. The migrants then dwelled in newly-inhabited illegal Toro village. Coordinator of Jikalahari (Riau NGOs network for forest rescue) Zulfahmi said the government should prevent migrants entering defunct HPH selective logging concession granted to PT Nanjak Makmur due to they encroach the proposed Tesso Nilo National Park extension land. “Because they just conduct illegal encroachment,” he said as quoted by Riau Terkini website Tuesday.

Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- Intervention from officials, poor coordination and light sanction against illegal loggers are some factors impeding eradication against illegal logging, a discussion at House of Representatives concluded last week.

President Susilo commented on the arrest of timber baron who alleged suspect of illegal logging in North Sumatra, Adelin Lis. The suspect, who is boss of both PT Inanta Timber and PT Keang Nam Development Indonesia, was detained in China last weekend and currently under custody of police in Medan of North Sumatra.

At the meeting, a senior official of Industry Ministry said pulp and paper industry is also responsible for massive deforestation and urged the authority to revoke their license for sourcing illegal timber, JPNN through Riau Pos reported.

Minister Malam Sambat Kaban said in Medan, North Sumatra, last week that DPR (House of Representatives) has expected such amount, therefore the body should ask the Indonesian Police, Attorney General office, and Forestry Ministry for further responsibilities.

Cabinet Minister Rachmat Witoelar said Thursday in Bogor of West Java that illegal logging capitalists must be responsible for recent floods and mudflows disaster in several provinces in Indonesia, Republika daily reported Friday.

"The hot spots must be put out , otherwise the tigers` habitat will be threatened," the head of the local Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal), Khairul Zainal, said. He said the hot spots which had been spotted by satellite would become a serious danger to wild life if the area if they were not extinguished.

Indonesia has enacted laws on environmental protection and has issued a myriad of regulations and rulings to protect forests, in addition to the creation of non-tariff barriers to prevent the trading of illegally cut wood. Yet deforestation continues. Inter-island trade and export of illegally felled timber remains rampant.

Pekanbaru, Indonesia (EoF News, May 27, 2005) - New investigations by Eyes on the Forest reveal continued forest destruction in APRIL's concession area. At least 216 hectare of natural peat swamp forest have recently been opened and have brought illegal loggers and squatters to the area.