Environment and Poverty

Indonesian Forests Gradually Diminishing

VIVAnews - The area of forests in Indonesia keeps on decreasing. The deforestation rate reaches two million hectares per year, far beyond the previous annual rates.

Managing Director of 2009 Forest and People Fair, San Afri Awang, said that the deforestation rate has exceeded the tolerable limit. According to Awang, the rapid deforestation rate started in 1996.

"In 1980, the deforestation rate was only one million hectares per year and by 1990 it has increased to 1.7 million hectares per year," he said after launched the 2009 Forest and People Fair on Monday, Jan 12.

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The acceptable deforestation rate is between 0.6  and 1.3 million hectares per year. The deforestation rate in Indonesia has surpassed the limit.

Indonesian forests are seriously damaged. In fact, according to Awang, within the last 50 years, the area of forests in Indonesia has decreased from 162 million hectares to 98 million hectares.

Meanwhile, Director of Java Learning Center (Javlec) Agus Affianto said that the deforestation in the country has caused poverty to people living along the edge of the forests. They, said Affianto, lose their sources of earnings. 

Data of Indonesian Central Statistics Agency (BPS) during the 2000-2005 period showed that of out of a population of 229.9 million, around 48.8 million people (12 percent) are living inside and around forests; 10.2 million of the said amount (25 percent) are categorized as living in poverty.

In addition to losing their sources of earnings, their surroundings have also been altered to their detriment: lack of water sources, land subsidence, flood, drought, famine. "Globally, deforestation contributes to climate change by 20 percent," said Affianto.

Therefore, Affianto urged that the government applies evergreen-forest management by involving people living along the edge of forests. "People who live along the edge of forests actually have the local wisdom to protect the forests," he said.


Coverage: Rahardian | Yogyakarta
Translated by: Bonardo Maulana Wahono

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