Refugees blamed for forest damage<\/p>\n
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least 1,000 hectares of land
\ninside protected forests in the East Nusa Tenggara regency of
\nBelu have been cleared for plantation and settlement by East
\nTimorese refugees, an official said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Head of the local forestry agency Antonius Tisera said the
\ndamage had been discovered in protected forests in Wemer, Tubaki,
\nand Kateri, which are situated in Malaka Timur and Sasi Taman
\ndistricts. Around 1,700 refugees have been living in the areas
\nsince August, according to Antonius.<\/p>\n
\"The refugees should abandon the protected forest in order
\nthat the environment can be restored there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
By way of explanation, refugee camp coordinator Aleks Parera
\nsaid the displaced people were forced to clear the forest as they
\nneeded land for cultivating crops and to build houses.<\/p>\n
\"We know we have damaged the forest, but it was unavoidable as
\nwe needed the land for planting corn and cassava,\" Aleks said.<\/p>\n
Some 30,000 East Timorese refugees remain in camps across the
\nprovince. The government has said it will shut the camps by the
\nend of this year. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/refugees-blamed-for-forest-damage-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}