Philippines Bans Logging After Fatal Floods

President Gloria Arroyo has banned logging in the Philippines after rampant deforestation was blamed for much of the devastation caused by four recent storms that have left more than 1,300 people dead or missing.

Likening illegal loggers to terrorists, drug traffickers and kidnappers, Ms Arroyo called for harsher penalties for anyone convicted of environmental destruction in several eastern provinces.

Environmentalists welcomed the move yesterday, but said the ban was not enough to prevent similar disasters. They called for a big tree-planting campaign and a concerted fight against the corruption that underpins much of the deforestation.

Ms Arroyo made her feelings plain in an official statement. "We are determined to make those responsible for widespread death and destruction pay the price for their misdeeds, and we shall prosecute them the way we do terrorists, kidnappers, drug traffickers and other heinous criminals," she said.

"I urge [parliament] to amend existing environmental laws to promulgate stiffer penalties against illegal loggers and their cohorts, including erring government officials and law enforcers who are abetting the destruction of our forest lands."

Her press secretary, Ignacio Bunye, said no officials, however high-ranking, would be spared. "This thing could not have happened without the knowledge of some officials, so it is important that a thorough investigation is conducted," he said.

It is estimated that less than 6% of the 21m hectares (52m acres) of forest that existed a century ago remains intact.

Blas Tabaranza, of the Philippine environmental group Haribon, said of the logging ban: "I'm hopeful but I'm not very optimistic. It's always the pronouncement of the president whenever we have a landslide to blame illegal loggers and promise greater implementation [of environmental laws]. But commercial loggers do more harm than the illegal loggers."

Sam Lawson, of the London-based Environmental Investigation Agency, said forest destruction in the Philippines was "a lost cause" unless radical action was taken.

"Even if they really stopped it wouldn't make much difference because they've lost so much and are not reforesting," he said.

Environmental groups said the government had to tackle corruption seriously if it wanted a lasting solution.

"We have to change the values of the officials," said Professor Tabaranza. "They have no conscience. Corruption is part of the culture."

The ban came as official data put the number of dead at 628 and the missing at 718. An estimated 500,000 people are believed to have been affected. Tens of thousands have lost their homes.