Jakarta - The police chief in West Kalimantan province on the Indonesian part of Borneo island has been removed in connection with rampant illegal logging activity, a police spokesman said Wednesday.

National police spokesman Inspector General Abubakar Nataprawira said Brigadier General Zainal Abidin Ishak had been replaced and transferred to National Police headquarters in Jakarta

Nataprawira said along with Ishak, the chief of West Kalimantan's Ketapang district police was also transferred to the capital in connection with the illegal logging activity.

Three police officials in West Kalimantan's Ketapang district were arrested last week for their alleged roles in illegal logging in the province.

According to the environmental watchdog Greenpeace, Indonesia had the world's fastest rate of deforestation between 2000 and 2005, with the equivalent area of 300 football pitches cut down every hour.

Deforestation is regarded as the main factor for Indonesia turning into the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in the world. (dpa)