Students blamed for forest damage

BOGOR: Irresponsible students in outdoor activities groups are polluting and damaging forests in Gunung Pangrango National Park, forest rangers said.

"They vandalize the forest by carving their names onto trees, they cover information posts with graffiti and they litter all over the Kandang Batu and Kandang Badak areas in the Cibodas resort," ranger Ujang Edi told The Jakarta Post.

The rangers, helped by villagers, collected five to 10 bags of non-organic waste such as drink cans and paper cartons every day from the two areas, he said.

"Although the national park is closed for hiking from January to March, except for research activities, many students go in the forest without notifying us," Ujang Edi said. -- JP