Forestry and its contribution

Forestry and its contribution

It has been argued that the forestry sector can provide an
invaluable contribution to the economic crisis and to long-term
development. It is true that it can play a significant role in
recruiting a large number of workers, generating reforestation
funds and in supporting the timber processing industry. But one
must also consider the impact of forest concessions on the
environment, especially if logging is done without proper
management and planning.

Several decades of logging activities have created serious
negative impacts on the forests. Forest concessionaires have over
exploited the forest sources, disturbed the wildlife and taken
their money to cities, with few benefits accruing to local
people.

If we demand the forestry sector to contribute more to
economic development, we have to demand better management,
stronger legal enforcement, increased research and better
policies. If not, then please do not consider the exploitation of
state forest by concessionaires to be the best solution.

The loss of regular water supply, soil fertility and
destruction of fisheries as well as biodiversity cannot be
compensated through the reforestation fees paid by forest
concessionaires. We must guarantee that forests are managed in an
environmentally sustainable manner.

DENI PURBA

Medan, North Sumatra