Mangroves at Bunaken destroyed

Mangroves at Bunaken destroyed

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Two businessmen have destroyed several
dozen hectares of mangroves in Bunaken National Park and turned
the area into a holiday resort, police said Saturday.

Maj. A.J. Marantika, a senior detective at the North Sulawesi
police command said the businessmen had been questioned.

Marantika said what the entrepreneurs did was a breach of law
and they deserved punitive action.

Antara reported that they have been building cottages and
brackish fishponds in the area.

Daniel Palilu, a senior employee at the North Sulawesi
forestry office, said the businessmen had also built a quay on
the disputed area. (pan)