Forest squatters to be resettled

PALU, C. Sulawesi: Some 24,000 families of forest squatters, comprising 40,000 people, will be moved from the Lore-Lindu National Park and resettled to other parts of Central Sulawesi province in fiscal year 1998/1999, Antara reported yesterday.

The families, occupying 60 of 117 villages at the park, will be resettled under the Lore-Lindu conservation and integrated area development program, according to Yahya Ponulele, the chairman of the Provincial Development Planning Board.

Ponulele said the large-scale resettlement project aims to promote the welfare of the indigenous people and ensure that they do not pose any threat to the park's natural resources.

With their resettlement, the park will have a buffer zone and a sustainable and mutually supporting relationship between the park and the locals will be established, he added. (swe)