Maligo springs start to dry up due to rampant illegal logging<\/p>\n
Irvan NR, Palu<\/p>\n
The Maligo springs in Madale subdistrict, Poso regency, Central
\nSulawesi, are on the verge of drying up due to rampant logging in
\nthe area.<\/p>\n
The facts on the ground show that the water flowing through
\nMadale and the two adjacent subdistricts of Lawanga and
\nTegalrejo, which residents greatly depend on for their everyday
\nneeds, has drastically declined.<\/p>\n
Poso Kota subdistrict secretary Sudarmanto said that local
\npeople had long been complaining about reductions in water flow,
\nbut due to the unstable situation in Poso following the outbreak
\nof sectarian conflict in 2000, the problem had yet to be
\naddressed.<\/p>\n
He said the subdistrict was currently disseminating
\ninformation on boundary lines in the areas where the springs were
\nlocated, with local villagers to be subsequently prohibited from
\nclearing forest within these lines to establish plantations.<\/p>\n
He hoped the villagers would understand the need for this and
\ncomply with the ban.<\/p>\n
\"After the boundary lines have been drawn, the villagers will
\nhave to cease their agricultural activities in the area,\"
\nSudarmanto said on Monday.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, Poso forestry and agriculture office director
\nNahardi said the Maligo springs area had been designated as a
\nforest reserve since 1949.<\/p>\n
This still applied, and nobody was permitted to carry out
\nlogging or clear land there for agricultural purposes, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We are committed to preserving the protected forest,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nahardi also urged villagers in the three subdistricts to
\nadhere to the ban by not trespassing around the springs.<\/p>\n
Those who had earlier established unauthorized plantations
\ninside the perimeter would have to abandon them, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The drawing up of boundaries will be useless if villagers
\ncontinue to farm and clear land inside the area,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nahardi invited the villagers to participate by planting
\nboundary stakes. \"If everyone is committed, this will then
\nprevent others from clearing land in the future,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Maligo springs are located in a mountainous area of Madale
\nsubdistrict. The crystal-clear water is piped to homes and
\nsettlements in three subdistricts.<\/p>\n
But the water flow normally diminishes during the dry season,
\noften forcing people to queue for water.<\/p>\n
\"We feel the effects most during the dry season when we have
\nto be patient and wait our turn for water,\" said Budi, a resident
\nof Tegalrejo neighborhood.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/maligo-springs-start-to-dry-up-due-to-rampant-illegal-logging-1447893297",
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