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