Officials blamed for deforestation in Leuser<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, Medan<\/p>\n
An official of the Leuser Management Unit (UML), which manages
\nthe Leuser Ecosystem area, has stated that 25 percent of the vast
\n2.6-million-hectare area has been deforested.<\/p>\n
UML's project director M. Ali Basyah said on Thursday, the
\ndeforestation had encompassed several regencies, including Karo
\nand Langkat in North Sumatra province, and Southeast Aceh, South
\nAceh and East Aceh in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.<\/p>\n
The area covers 11 regencies in Aceh and four regencies in
\nNorth Sumatra. The famous Leuser National Park, which is rich in
\nanimal and plant species, is part of the area.<\/p>\n
Basyah said deforestation in the area had continued unabated
\nsince the 1970s, as law enforcers -- including police and
\nmilitary personnel and forestry officials -- were involved in
\nillegal logging there.<\/p>\n
\"The UML has uncovered several illegal logging cases that
\ninvolved security personnel and forestry officials,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Masrani, a well-known figure in Aceh, who recently won the
\nLeuser environmental award, said he had once reported two
\nsoldiers in Serba Jadi district to the Aceh Military Command for
\ntheir involvement in illegal logging activities. The two soldiers
\nwere consequently discharged.<\/p>\n
According to Masrani, Serba Jadi residents had submitted a
\ndraft regulation to the local council that would help prevent
\nillegal logging in the district.<\/p>\n
The regulation was endorsed three months ago.<\/p>\n
Under the regulation, loggers are fined Rp 250,000 (US$ 26.3)
\nfor every tree they cut down illegally.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Basyah said that conservation efforts in the Leuser
\nEcosystem area require a huge amount of money. According to
\ninternational standards, the protection of each hectare of forest
\nwould cost at least US$1.<\/p>\n
Thus, considering that 25 percent of the area has been
\ndeforested, some US$650,0000 would be needed to protect it.<\/p>\n
However, Basyah said, the UML's contract to manage the area
\nwill expire on November 9, after which the International Leuser
\nFoundation will take over its management for the next 30 years.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/officials-blamed-for-deforestation-in-leuser-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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