More than 1,000 hectares of one of Indonesia’s most important
national parks has been encroached upon by illegal palm oil plantations,
according to an investigation.
The investigation by Indonesia’s Independent Forest
Monitoring Network (JPIK) found that the plantations in Sebangau National Park
had been established by a group that includes several high-ranking government
officials as its members.
Sebangau is composed principally of carbon-rich peat forests
and is home to thousands of critically endangered Bornean orangutans.
JPIK Campaigner Dhio Teguh Ferdyan said in a statement:
“Instead of being defended, the national park management unit closest to the
centre of provincial government in Palangkaraya – which, in theory, should be
able to protect its integrity – is in reality allowing encroachment, leading to
the destruction of tropical peat swamp forest.”
Click here to
view the report.
