Squatters destroy protected forest

PALOPO, South Sulawesi: Some 13,000 hectares of protected forests in Luwu have been destroyed by squatters planting cocoa in the area, a forestry official said on Monday.

Syahrul Shaidy, the head of the Luwu Forestry Office, said hundreds of families from outside the Luwu regency had moved into the area to plant the highly valued cash crop.

The uncontrolled forest denudation threatens the ecological balance in the area, Syahrul said. (37/01)