China's growing economy may fuel illegal timber trade

A booming economy has not only made China thirsty for oil and minerals but also forestry products, which could be fueling the illegal trade of the commodity from Indonesia, according to a non-governmental organization. Director of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) David Kaimowitz said China's astonishing economic growth had threatened the sustainability of the Indonesian forests as Indonesian exporters were racing to tap market opportunities in China.