Pagaralam protected forest under threat

PALEMBANG: Nearly 8,000 hectares of the 28,740-hectare protected forest of Pagar Alam, South Sumatra, are at risk of serious damage as they are being converted into a public productive forest, an official at the Pagar Alam Forestry and Horticulture Agency said.

Agency head Hasan Bahrin Ibnu said Sunday the damage occurred at Bukit Dingin area (3,750 hectare), Bukit Batok (2,400 hectare) and Tebat Benawah village (1,300 hectare).

The rest are in Tebad Lereh and Kerinjing villages.

Of the Pagar Alam City's 63,366-hectare area, according to Hasan, 45 percent are protected forest, 30 percent are plantation areas and the rest are production forests and residential areas.

"To help deal with the problem, we are optimizing the reforestation programs as well as improving the performance of forest rangers in the district level," Hasan said. - JP