Destruction of forest accidental, says report
By Qin Yan (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-05 05:50

Indonesian paper giant Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) damaged protected forests in Southern China, but only inadvertently, an official investigation has concluded.

The company's operations in Hainan Province were found to have destroyed parts of natural forests but the damage was unintentional, according to a report from the State Forestry Administration's office in provincial capital Haikou, the Beijing News reported yesterday.

APP had submitted a written promise to the forestry administration, promising to abide by the law and to send regular reports on its operations to forestry authorities.

APP's Hainan projects were first criticised by the Beijing News in mid-March, which reported mass logging of roadside trees across the island province.

In late May, international environmental group Greenpeace also accused APP of endangering Hainan's forests. It said that a huge gap in timber supply from the Hainan Jinhai Pulp & Paper Co Ltd, an APP subsidiary, had led to the logging of many natural forests.

The Haikou office of the State Forestry Administration's report, quoted by the Beijing News yesterday, concluded that APP projects do not necessarily damage protected forests.

Cases of the destruction of natural forests are not common, said the report.

Greenpeace China yesterday released a statement welcoming APP's promise.

Greenpeace campaigner Zhong Yu said: "It is yet to be seen whether APP can keep its word."

(China Daily 08/05/2005 page2)

Close

Twin panda cubs doing well Villages flooded in Anhui Pet dogs tie the knot in Changchun

Today's Top News     Top China News
Washington and Beijing will unite to block G4 plan         Roadside bomb kills 14 US marines in Iraq         Six-party talks totter into no man's land         Toll hits 26 in Henan coal mine accident         Profiteering medical service slammed         London bombings suspect to appear in court	Ordinary house buyers unhurt by revaluation       Investors relieved after CNOOC drops bid       India says closer US ties won't distance China       Country soaked in torrential downpour       Henan coal mine accident kills 24       Six-Party Talks approaches final stage