Momentum provided to Repair Cycloop Environmental Damage
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Momentum provided to Repair...
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Momentum provided to Repair Cycloop Environmental Damage
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SENTANI, KOMPAS — The flash floods and landslides that killed 105 in Sentani district, Papua, were inseparable from the conversion of land into residential areas and plantations in the Cycloop Nature Reserve in Jayapura regency, Papua. The natural disasters should provide momentum to repair this environmental damage.
Observations at the nature reserve’s Post 7 on Friday (22/3/2019) showed landslide debris in the form of logs had been cut down with chainsaws. There were also uprooted tree trunks with clear marks of chainsaw cuts.
“These trees were cut down by locals opening plantations around Post 7. Some of them might have been uprooted by the flash flood, but you can clearly see marks of chainsaw cuts on some of the tree trunks. Clearly, they did not fall because of the flooding,” said community leader Yanto Eluay in Sereh hamlet, Sentani district.
Post 7 is located between Sereh hamlet and the Cycloop waterfall on the foot of Mount Cycloop. Around the tree stumps, there are cassava and pumpkin patches abandoned by their owners.
“These forest encroachers cut down trees covertly to open land for plantations. The logs were then either used for fire or sold,” Yanto said.
Thick islands of garbage float in the middle of Lake Sentani, Jayapura regency, Papua, on Friday (22/3/2019). The garbage islands formed after a flash flood hit three districts in Jayapura regency last week. Lake Sentani is at the estuary of rivers whose upstream areas are on Mount Cycloop.He said he had been worried that the encroachers had penetrated the forest high up onto the Cylcoop Mountains. Together with other locals in Sereh hamlet, he said that he planned to campaign for reforestation.
“The foothill region supports the entire Cycloop Mountain. If the foot is not in good condition, how can it support the whole mountain?” Yanto said.
Drone monitoring from above the Cycloop waterfall showed that the landslides had merged with the waterfall. From above, you can see the difference of vegetations between the mountain’s steep parts, dominated by trees, and its slopes where plantations and people’s homes are located.
Plantations can also be found on Mt. Cycloop’s foothills to the north of the Hinekombe subdistrict. Local resident Dakiron said that some of his plantations had been swept away by landslides and flash floods.
“The landslide had come from Mt. Cycloop and hit locals’ plantations. I have an 80-meter-by-60-meter plantation here and it was hit by the landslide,” he said.
Beside the plantations there was landslide debris in the form of huge rocks and sand in two slides measuring about 10 meters wide and 4 meters deep. Not far from the plantations are homes that were constructed without building permits (IMB).
“These houses were only constructed in 2018 without IMB. My brother has a house here. I also wanted to build one here but now I am worried because of the flash flood,” said Taruna hamlet resident Arulek Gire.
Encroachment
Separately, Papua Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) head Edward Sembiring said that locals also encroached on forests to practise their shifting cultivation agriculture system. However, he denied allegations that illegal logging was taking place.
“Before the flash flood, we patrolled the area and found no illegal logging activities. Some of the downed trees had been hit by the flash flood,” he said.
Edward said he estimated that 2,600 hectares of land had been encroached for plantations. Customary approaches toward local communities would be necessary to resolve problems and protect the 31,479.9-hectare Cycloop Nature Reserve.
“In the past few days, I have discussed with the Jayapura regent about reorganizing the plantations. We are still thinking about possible solutions. I believe that the disaster should provide momentum to repair the Cycloop Nature Reserve,” he said.
Edward said that regency or provincial administrations had the authority to act against illegal houses. Previously, Papua Deputy Governor Klemen Tinal said that the administration planned to relocate people living in the nature reserve. However, he said that there would be no punishment for encroachers.
Separately, Center of Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) head Agus Budianto said that evidence should be collected in the investigation.
“We will compile a report about permanent threats in the region. There will be a recommendation for the regency and provincial administrations on whether relocation is needed,” he said. (DVD)