Forest destruction blamed for flooding

LUWU, South Sulawesi: Environmentalist said here on Thursday that five forest concessionaires are responsible for the destruction of forest in South Sulawesi which has caused prolonged flooding in seven villages.

Ikrar Idrus, chairman of the provincial chapter of the Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI), told The Jakarta Post that the arbitrary operations of the five companies in the past, had damaged the ecosystem around the Rongkong river basin.

The residents of the villages of Lembang-Lembang, Kadundung, Lewele Jaya, Lara Satu, Lara Dua, Lara Tiga and Tarobbo in the district of Luwu Utara, some 500 kilometers north of Makassar, have become used to the flooding which started in 1992.

Ikrar said that the five forest concessionaires had stopped their operations.

La Masse, a Lawele Jaya villager, said that the incessant flooding had inundated and destroyed 4,000 hectares of cocoa plantation belonging to the villagers.

Another local, Langgo, said that the production of cocoa had dropped drastically since the flood hit the area. "I could usually earn at least Rp 1 million during the cocoa harvest time every year in the past. Now nothing is left," he said, adding that he owned two hectares of cocoa plantation.

Ikrar said WALHI was ready to help the villagers. "The Ministry of Forestry and Plantation should be held responsible for this calamity." (27/sur)