Finding solution to forest destruction

The minister of forestry has asked the Kapuk Naga Indah Real Estate, North Jakarta, to return the land, because it belongs to the Ministry of Forestry and the process of acquiring the land was not legal and full of malpractice such as corruption, collusion and nepotism.

That request was OK, as far as it was beneficial to all. I wonder, though, after all these years and development how it will benefit all.

A more important issue is that the minister has done nothing. At least I never hear about him doing anything. Illegal logging in almost all Indonesia's forests is happening at a very alarming rate and volume. Yet the minister does nothing. Plantation trees are being felled by local people under the pretext that the land belonged to their ancestors a long long time ago. Rubber trees, cocoa trees, tea trees, palm trees, etc. And the minister still does nothing.

Fisheries and shrimp farms are being plundered, as the land is being claimed as belonging to their ancestors. What are the minister's responses? I have never heard one. All that destruction will need 50 years to 100 years to repair.

These destructive acts do not only cause damage to the environment but also have a negative impact on our exports and our economy.

Please come up with solutions, not problems. The best solution for the people should be the minister's concern.

MOCHAMAD SIDARTA

Jakarta