Illegal logging ruining Leuser National Park<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
At least 50,000 hectares out of a total of 216,000 hectares of
\nforest in the Gunung Leuser National Park has been deforested
\nsince 1980, sparking concern over an environmental disaster in
\nthe area, a senior local government functionary said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Illegal logging was to blamed for the rapid deforestation,
\nsaid Langkat regent Syamsul Arifin.<\/p>\n
\"The deforestation is getting worst, especially in Besitang
\nand Sei Lepan districts,\" said Syamsul.<\/p>\n
The regent told a press conference that the illegal
\nlogging had actually been reported to the Ministry of Forestry
\nfor follow-up action. \"The central government needs to take swift
\naction against the illegal loggers so that further environmental
\ndamage can be avoided,\" said Syamsul.<\/p>\n
The illegal logging involved high-level bureaucrats, security
\npersonnel and businesspeople, making it difficult for the
\ngovernment to stamp it out.<\/p>\n
But, the government had to make a start otherwise the forest
\nwould disappear, said Syamsul.<\/p>\n
The executive director of the North Sumatra Forum for the
\nEnvironment (Walhi), John Purba, said the environmental damage in
\nthe regency had been taking place for a long time but the
\ngovernment had never done anything concrete to stop it.<\/p>\n
The illegal loggers were \"untouchable\" as they were backed by
\ngovernment officials and security personnel, said Purba.<\/p>\n
\"How can the logs be removed so easily from the jungle
\nwithout anyone seeing them? The illegal loggers are obviously
\nbeing backed by security personnel so that they can transport the
\nlogs out of the jungle,\" said Purba.<\/p>\n
A case in point was that of \"Mr. A\", a well-known operator in
\nthe timber trade who was suspected of being involved in illegal
\nlogging. He had never been arrested although various
\norganizations, including local NGOs, have furnished information
\nto the police that he was involved in illegal logging.<\/p>\n
Purba said that if the illegal logging was not dealt with
\nquickly, it would lead to more natural disasters. The government
\nshould learn from the Bahorok tragedy two years ago, which killed
\nmore than 150 people. The flash flood in Bahorok happened because
\nof the felling of the forests in the upper reaches of the river,
\nsaid Purba.<\/p>\n
The illegal logging has not only concerned Langkat regency
\nadministration, but also other local governments nationwide as
\nillegal logging was rampant across the country. The government
\nlaunched a nationwide crackdown against the illegal loggers in
\nMarch of this year and thousands had been arrested since then.
\nDespite the large number of arrests, illegal logging was still
\ntaking place, especially in remote areas.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/illegal-logging-ruining-leuser-national-park-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}