Indonesian Deforestation Highest in the World

In alarming statistics Indonesia is one of countries with the highest deforestation rate in the world and the country is also facing deteriorated quality of the air and water.

Prof Dr Arminda Alisyahbana of Padjadjaran University of Indonesia said that deforestation in Indonesia had reached an alarming level and added that the situation is due to forest looting, fires and land conversion. In his continuing address Arminda said that the damaged forests would later become a threat to the bio-diversity of Indonesian tropical forests which were very useful to present and future generations of Indonesians as well as the world.

He said the second big problem to be faced by Indonesia was deteriorating quality of the air and water as a consequence of the impact of the high level of pollution by households, industry and transportation emissions and wastes. The air over big cities in Indonesia was now low in quality adding that Jakarta was now the third most air-polluted city in the world after Mexico City and Bangkok. If anyone has ventured to Jakarta then you will most certainly know what the professor means.

Besides air pollution, water quality and accessibility were also worsening, therefore, the government should play the main role in efforts to handle all problems relating with environmental and natural resources management so that development could take place in a sustainable way.

The Indonesian government cannot say its hands are tied in this situation and its no use them burying their heads in the sand. Illegal logging is rampant throughout Sumatra and other islands and until the government stamps out the corruption associated with this practice then it will continue for a long time to come.