Increase Patrols, South Kalimantan Provincial Government Highlights 2 Points Of Forest Damage Since The Beginning Of Ramadan

South Kalimantan forestry officers during the confiscation of wood allegedly from illegal logging in protected forests. (ANTARA/HO-Diskominfo South Kalimantan)

KALIMANTAN - Provincial Government (Pemrov) of South Kalimantan (Kalsel) is increasing patrols to prevent forest damage disturbances from both illegal logging and illegal mining. "This is in accordance with the governor's instructions for us to continue to strive to overcome illegal logging and illegal mining that occur in forest areas," said Head of the South Kalimantan Forestry Service Fathimatuzzahra in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, Thursday 6 April, confiscated by Antara. He said, his party together with the Forest Management Unit (KPH) and Raya Forest Parks (Tahura) continue to strive to carry out patrols and strict supervision in forest security, even though they are fasting. "We will minimize forest destruction to preserve forest areas, state rights over forests and forest products in the South Kalimantan region," he said. Fathimatuzzahra said, not only from the planting side that is always considered but protection against forests and forest products is a priority. "So, from the beginning of Ramadan until now it has handled two areas that have occurred forest destruction in South Kalimantan, including being in the Forest Management Unit (KPH) Kusan and KPH Sengayam," said Fathimatuzzahra. Meanwhile, the Head of Forest Security Section at as Forestry South Kalimantan Haris Setiawan said, his party indeed put forward a persuasive approach to the community so that it can protect forest areas and be able to take care about in preserving protected forest areas while preventing illegal activities.

As the team patrolled access roads that are often used for transportation in Gunung Raya Village, Mantewe District, Tanah Bumbu Regency, the team found several piles of processed wood that were thought to have been the result of illegal logging from forest areas in the KPH Kusan area, Tanah Bumbu Regency. "So a total of 5.8592 cubic meters of processed wood with 17 pieces of meranti, 24 simpure, 28 cuts of Bungur and two pieces of construction were successfully secured by the team. However, previously it was found that 71 pieces of wood of mixed jungle type," said Haris. Furthermore, KPH Sengayam, Kotabaru Regency managed to secure piles of ironwood with varying size in Buluh Kuning Village, Sungai Durian District, Kotabaru Regency and the wood were the result of illegal logging activities. "A total of 23 logs or 0.32 cubic meters of wood with iron type were successfully secured and taken to KPH Sengayam, then the wood would be immediately taken to the place to collect evidence from the South Kalimantan Dishut Forestry Police Office in Gang Petai Banjarbaru," he said.