Illegal Logging Suspected Cause of Floods in South Sulawesi
Thursday, 22 June, 2006 | 18:09 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The landslides and tremendous floods in seven regencies of South Sulawesi are suspected to have resulted because of illegal logging in the surrounding forests and mountain foothills.

One of the exploited mountain forests is located in the North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi.

This forest, said Rachmat Witoelar, State Minister for the Environment, now no longer has any trees anymore.

As a result, the seven regencies were exposed to floods because there were no natural water catchments in the area.

Rachmat has also received a report that Sinjai, along with other current areas that are suffering from the disaster, has often hit by floods and minor landslides.

However, the residents and the local government have not seemed to at all be serious about this situation.

Rachmat and his staff are continuing to investigate the case since PT Kendari Katingan Timber, the only Forest Concession Rights' (HPH) holder in the mountain forest area in North Luwu, is considered to be one of the causes of the barren forest.

Mustafa Moses and Irmawati