Damaged And Burned 9.2 Hectares Of Barisan Wildlife Sanctuary Forest In Solok, West Sumatra, AY Threatened With 10 Years Of Fines IDR 5 Billion

The Patrol Team of the West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) checks the forest that was burned and damaged by residents (Via ANTARA)

PADANG - The West Sumatra Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) Patrol Team arrested a perpetrator of vandalism and burning of the Barisan Wildlife Reserve forest area in Solok Regency, with the initials AY (37).

"AY was secured by RKW VIII Barisan Solok officers on March 29, 2022. Currently, the perpetrator has been named a suspect along with evidence of 2 chains saw units that have been secured at the Solok Police for further investigation", said Head of the West Sumatra BKSDA, Ardi Andono, in a written statement received in Padang, Antara, Wednesday, April 27.

AY is a resident of Koto Hilalang. He was taken into custody when the team carried out a patrol and found the perpetrator at the location setting fire to it. From the results of checks and calculations, he said, it was known that the damaged forest area reached 9.2 hectares.

He said the information was based on complaints from the people of Nagari Salayo to the West Sumatra Regional Police and a joint site review with the West Sumatra BKSDA was carried out in February 2022, the location of the destruction was close to the Nagari Salayo Customary High Forest.

The destruction, he said, was considered to be a separate threat to the community around the fields because it would cause landslides, reduce water supplies, and many more losses were received by the community as a result of this encroachment.

The perpetrator is suspected of violating Article 40 Paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 19 Paragraph (1) letter an of Indonesian Law No.. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Biological Natural Resources and Their Ecosystems in conjunction with Article 78 Paragraph (5) in conjunction with Article 50 Paragraph (3) letter e Law of the Republic of Indonesia No. 41 of 1999 concerning Forestry in conjunction with Article 82 Paragraph (1) letter b in conjunction with Article 12 Paragraph (1) letter b Indonesian Law no. 18 of 2013 concerning Prevention and Eradication of Forest Destruction with a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment and a fine of IDR 5 billion.

Ardi Andono invites the community to understand the boundaries and functions of forest areas in West Sumatra so that they do not take the wrong steps to open up in processing prohibited forest areas.

"Please ask the West Sumatra Provincial Forestry Service Office or the West Sumatra BKSDA first to clarify the status of the land", he said.

The West Sumatra BKSDA, he said, 2010 has taken preemptive and preventive actions to prevent forestry crimes, such as borderline maintenance activities, socialization, routine patrols, and installation of area boundary signs in the Nagari/buffering villages along the Barisan SM area, especially in the District. solo.