Officials blamed for deforestation in Leuser

Apriadi Gunawan, Medan

An official of the Leuser Management Unit (UML), which manages the Leuser Ecosystem area, has stated that 25 percent of the vast 2.6-million-hectare area has been deforested.

UML's project director M. Ali Basyah said on Thursday, the deforestation had encompassed several regencies, including Karo and Langkat in North Sumatra province, and Southeast Aceh, South Aceh and East Aceh in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

The area covers 11 regencies in Aceh and four regencies in North Sumatra. The famous Leuser National Park, which is rich in animal and plant species, is part of the area.

Basyah said deforestation in the area had continued unabated since the 1970s, as law enforcers -- including police and military personnel and forestry officials -- were involved in illegal logging there.

"The UML has uncovered several illegal logging cases that involved security personnel and forestry officials," he said.

Masrani, a well-known figure in Aceh, who recently won the Leuser environmental award, said he had once reported two soldiers in Serba Jadi district to the Aceh Military Command for their involvement in illegal logging activities. The two soldiers were consequently discharged.

According to Masrani, Serba Jadi residents had submitted a draft regulation to the local council that would help prevent illegal logging in the district.

The regulation was endorsed three months ago.

Under the regulation, loggers are fined Rp 250,000 (US$ 26.3) for every tree they cut down illegally.

Meanwhile, Basyah said that conservation efforts in the Leuser Ecosystem area require a huge amount of money. According to international standards, the protection of each hectare of forest would cost at least US$1.

Thus, considering that 25 percent of the area has been deforested, some US$650,0000 would be needed to protect it.

However, Basyah said, the UML's contract to manage the area will expire on November 9, after which the International Leuser Foundation will take over its management for the next 30 years.