Throughout 2021 Aceh Will Lose Forest Cover The Size Of Weh Island Plus Breuh Island And Nasi Island

ACEH - The Aceh Natural and Environmental Forest Foundation (HAkA) stated that Aceh lost 19,443 hectares of forest cover or deforestation throughout 2021. This was triggered by land clearing, mining and plantation encroachment and illegal logging.

"We detected that 19,443 hectares of natural forest were deforested in Aceh in 2021," said Head of the Geographic Information System Division of HAkA Lukmanul Hakim in Banda Aceh, Antara, Tuesday, March 2.

He explained that the deforestation area of 19,443 hectares was the same as Pulau Weh, Sabang City, then added Breuh Island and Nasi Island in Aceh Besar. "In other words, in 27 minutes, Aceh lost 1 hectare of forest cover," he said.

However, according to him, the rate of deforestation in the Tanah Rencong area has decreased since the last five years. In 2015-2016, Aceh's forests experienced deforestation of 21 hectares. Then there was deforestation of 19 thousand hectares in the 2017-2018 period.

Furthermore, he said, Aceh's forests also experienced deforestation of 19 thousand hectares in 2018-2019 and also 14 thousand hectares in 2020.

According to HAkA data, the highest rate of deforestation in Aceh occurred in the Central Aceh District, which was around 3,343 hectares and the lowest was in Langsa City at around 27 hectares.

"The rate of deforestation in Aceh's forests has decreased, this may be due to the government's efforts to reduce deforestation, the performance of Pamhut (forest security officers) in the field and also law enforcement," he said.

He hopes that all parties will contribute to protecting Aceh's forests in the midst of the declining condition of Aceh's forests.

"In this case the government, CSOs (Civil Society Organizations) and other parties who do have a focus on the environment, will continue to tighten and eradicate environmental crimes in the future," he said.