Squatters destroy protected forest

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)