Round wood from natural forest signs of the V-Legal Network of the Independent Forestry Monitoring (JPIK) of East Java indicate that many people took advantage of the weaknesses of the Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) which was implemented in 2010. Muhammad Ichwan Fokal Point JPIK, East Java, said that these individuals wanted to take advantage of the SVLK weaknesses and they still freely sold timber which was indicated to be illegal both from natural forest wood and timber from plantation forests.

The East Java Independent Forestry Monitoring Network (JPIK) indicates that many individuals exploited the weaknesses of the Timber Legality Verification System (SVLK) which had been implemented since 2010. Muhammad Ichwan Fokal Point JPIK, East Java, said that these individuals wanted to take advantage of the SVLK weaknesses and they still freely sold timber which was indicated to be illegal both from natural forest wood and timber from plantation forests.

Exemplified by Ichwan, as happened in September 2015, the Sucofindo Timber Legality Verification Agency (LVLK) found forgery of VLK certificates conducted by UD Narda Jati Jaya in the Catak Gayam Village, Mojoagung District, Jombang Regency. “The alleged forgery of this certificate was discovered by LVLK Sucofindo when conducting the re-certification process of PT Usaha Loka, which was located in Malang in September 2015, where one of the suppliers of PT Usaha Loka was UD Narda Jati Jaya,” Ichwan said.

Ichwan added that UD Narda Jati Jaya attached a VLK certificate to the Jombang Wood Industry Entrepreneurs Association (APIK Jombang) No. 072 / LVLK-009 / XI / 2014 issued by LVLK Transtra Permada November 24, 2014, in which the certificate listed members of APIK Jombang are UD Ika Jati, UD Barokah, UD Rimba Asri, UD PK Mojopahit and UD Narda Jati Jaya. While the APIK Jombang No. VLK certificate. 072 / LVLK-009 / XI / 2014 which was originally published on January 6, 2015 by LVLK Transtra Permada where APIK Jombang members consisted of UD Ika Jati, UD Barokah, UD Rimba Asri and UD Yani Indah Jaya.

Certificate of Legality of Forged Wood
According to Ichwan with the findings, LVLK Sucofindo indicated this forgery, when one of the suppliers of PT Usaha Loka, namely UD Ika Jati, also attached a VLK APIK Jombang certificate, which was different from the Jombang VLK APIK certificate attached by UD Narda Jati Jaya. “Because of the difference in VLK certificates, LVLK Sucofindo confirmed to LVLK Transtra Permada as the issuer of certificates. Based on information from LVLK Transtra Permada, it was known that UD Narda Jati Jaya was not a member of APIK Jombang,” Ichwan explained.

Ichwan emphasized, the forgery of VLK Certificates conducted by UD Narda Jati Jaya was a violation of the law and greatly weakened the credibility of the SVLK in Indonesia and it is very possible that this has happened a lot and other people want to weaken the SVLK. “This counterfeiting must be of concern to many parties, both the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK), the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Trade, KAN, the related Service Offices at the Provincial and Regency levels, LVLK, the Employers’ Association, and Independent Monitoring and other parties,” said Ichwan Fokal Point JPIK East Java.

Ichwan also explained that if this forgery case continues to occur, it will provide an opportunity for illegal timber to easily enter the SVLK system, and eliminate market confidence in the guarantee of timber that already has SVLK sourced from legal activities.

Under these conditions, the East Java Independent Forestry Monitoring Network (JPIK) considers it important to strengthen related policies “Standards and Guidelines for Implementing Sustainable Production Forest Management (PHPL) Performance and Timber Legality Verification (VLK), to strengthen SVLK implementation and eliminate opportunities” people “who want to weaken the SVLK.

JPIK East Java also urges a number of things for the government and employers, including companies that must check the validity of VLK Certificates attached to wood suppliers. If LVLK finds a forgery of VLK Certificates, it must immediately report to KLHK and make an announcement on the Department of Forestry’s LVLK and SILK website so that the parties can find out the perpetrators and the counterfeiting information.

Particularly for the UD Narda Jati Jaya case, the MoEF must carry out firm investigations and prosecutions because cases of falsification of documents contain criminal elements so that there are no more individual companies who falsify certificates that can weaken the credibility of the SVLK. [BAG]
Exemplified by Ichwan, as happened in September 2015, the Sucofindo Timber Legality Verification Agency (LVLK) found forgery of VLK certificates conducted by UD Narda Jati Jaya in the Catak Gayam Village, Mojoagung District, Jombang Regency. “The alleged forgery of this certificate was discovered by LVLK Sucofindo when conducting the re-certification process of PT Usaha Loka, which was located in Malang in September 2015, where one of the suppliers of PT Usaha Loka was UD Narda Jati Jaya,” Ichwan said.

Ichwan also explained that if this forgery case continues to occur, it will provide an opportunity for illegal timber to easily enter the SVLK system, and eliminate market confidence in the guarantee of timber that already has SVLK sourced from legal activities.

Under these conditions, the East Java Independent Forestry Monitoring Network (JPIK) considers it important to strengthen related policies “Standards and Guidelines for Implementing Sustainable Production Forest Management (PHPL) Performance and Timber Legality Verification (VLK), to strengthen SVLK implementation and eliminate opportunities” people “who want to weaken the SVLK.

JPIK East Java also urges a number of things for the government and employers, including companies that must check the validity of VLK Certificates attached to wood suppliers. If LVLK finds a forgery of VLK Certificates, it must immediately report to KLHK and make an announcement on the Department of Forestry’s LVLK and SILK website so that the parties can find out the perpetrators and the counterfeiting information.

Particularly for the UD Narda Jati Jaya case, the MoEF must carry out firm investigations and prosecutions because cases of falsification of documents contain criminal elements so that there are no more individual companies who falsify certificates that can weaken the credibility of the SVLK. [BAG]