Hundreds Of Trees In BIL-Mandalika Bypass, Central Lombok Stolen

Head of the NTB Environment and Forestry Service, Madani Mukarom (PHOTO VIA ANTARA)

MATARAM - Hundreds of trees planted along the BIL-Mandalika Bypass road in Central Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara are missing, suspected to have been stolen.

The head of the NTB Environment and Forestry Service, Madani Mukarom, said that many of the trees planted to beautify and green the road along the BIL-Mandalika Bypass had been lost due to theft.

"People have uprooted these trees. In total, hundreds are missing," he said in Mataram, quoted by Antara, Thursday, January 6.

According to Madani Mukarom, the disappearance of these trees has happened many times.

"Once we plant it and it's not even a week it's gone. Planting again is gone," he explained.

According to him, the missing trees are of the type of Kijang Kencana whose seed price per tree can reach Rp. 100 thousand.

"Indeed, Kijang Kencana is expensive in the market. If it was a trembesi seed, people might not steal it. But because it is expensive, it was stolen. It's a risk to plant it," said Madani.

Madani said that the incidents of tree loss along the 17 kilometers of the BIL-Mandalika Bypass have often been conveyed to the village government, especially those adjacent to the BIL-Mandalika Bypass. In fact, village officials and the community have also been asked to look after and care for the trees.

"We also involve all villages and the police in surveillance, but indeed there are some that are missing. However, we need public awareness to jointly guard," said Madani Mukarom.

Madani Mukarom, said that to re-green the BIL-Mandalika Bypass road, 1,200 tree seedlings are needed. Not only the BIL-Mandalika Bypass road, the entire area including the Mandalika Circuit area is also planted with trees. In fact, this year his party will expand the involvement of banks to help the government in the form of planting trees.

"Of the 1,200 tree seedlings, 50-60 percent has been divided evenly between banks in NTB to be involved in carrying out reforestation movements, including monitoring. So once planted, they are not abandoned but must be monitored frequently," he said.