We have the map of who has annexed three hectares (of the national park) and who has 3,000 hectaresPekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA) - The Environment and Forestry Ministry has identified individuals who allegedly annexed thousands of hectares of land within the Tesso Nilo National Park (TNTN) area. "We have the map of who has annexed three hectares (of the national park) and who has 3,000 hectares," Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya told journalists in Pelalawan District Tuesday.
The minister stated this after monitoring the land and forest fire in Riau, in the company of the Indonesian Military Chief Air Chief Marchall Hadi Tjahjanto, the Indonesian Police Chief, Gen. Tito Karnavian, and head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen Doni Monardo.
The group took off from Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru and monitored the land and forest fire in Pelalawan and around the Tesso Nilo National Park.
The forest fire in the national park was intentional as she could see some zones drawn by certain groups in the conservation area, Nurbaya said.
Responding to the problem, the government and the police would take stern legal measures. "The main aspect is law enforcement," she stressed.
The Tesso Nilo National Park is a conservation forest, a home for the Sumatran endemic elephant (Elephas maximus sumatranus).
The TNTN area was extended in 2009 to 83,068 hectares, from only 38,576 hectares in 2004, by including limited production forest in its surrounding.
However, massive illegal encroachment of the conservation area has changed its landscape into palm oil plantations. (INE)
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Translator: Anggi R, Sri Haryati
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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