Refugees blamed for forest damage

Refugees blamed for forest damage

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least 1,000 hectares of land
inside protected forests in the East Nusa Tenggara regency of
Belu have been cleared for plantation and settlement by East
Timorese refugees, an official said on Thursday.

Head of the local forestry agency Antonius Tisera said the
damage had been discovered in protected forests in Wemer, Tubaki,
and Kateri, which are situated in Malaka Timur and Sasi Taman
districts. Around 1,700 refugees have been living in the areas
since August, according to Antonius.

"The refugees should abandon the protected forest in order
that the environment can be restored there," he said.

By way of explanation, refugee camp coordinator Aleks Parera
said the displaced people were forced to clear the forest as they
needed land for cultivating crops and to build houses.

"We know we have damaged the forest, but it was unavoidable as
we needed the land for planting corn and cassava," Aleks said.

Some 30,000 East Timorese refugees remain in camps across the
province. The government has said it will shut the camps by the
end of this year. -- JP