REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The National Environment Association reported that at least 57 million hectares of forest in Indonesia up to 2013 have been damaged due to various deforestation activities of the people.

"If the government does not pay serious attention to deforestation in Indonesia, the total damage to the forest will continue to increase every year," the Manager of Forest and Park for National Environment Association Zenzi Suhadi stated on Thursday.

A total of 56 million hectares had been damaged up to 2011, while the total damage in the recent two years has been one million hectares. The association stated that damage to the forest was caused by four factors --expansion of industrial forest plantations, oil palm plantation, and mining and logging areas.

"The government should take immediate action. If the government allows deforestation, it will trigger devastation of the forest in Indonesia," Suhadi said.

He added that damage to the forest was presumed to be the result of cheating between the local administration and the vandals of environment.

"The government should take legal action on the companies that damage forest and on the regional administration chief who gives permit to the companies to open new fields inside the forest area," Suhadi noted.

He pointed out that the perpetrators will never be cautious because the punishment is not as heavy as the destruction they have caused. Additionally, the institution noted that a government policy exists that provides remission to the companies that are involved in deforestation.

"We hope the new government will pay more attention to forest preservation and sustain the forest. Our institution has also asked the newly elected government to take stringent action against any company that is involved in deforestation," Suhadi added.

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