Illegal Logging and How to Prevent It?

Introduction

Illegal logging is the activity of logging, transporting and selling timber which is a form of factual threat around illegal borders or does not have permission from local authorities. Illegal logging certainly will not occur without any factors behind it. The factors that influence illegal logging are poverty, weak law enforcement that regulates illegal logging practices, community empowerment efforts around the forest have not been optimal, and the monitoring system by the government is still not running well.

The Factors of Illegal Logging

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Poverty is a major factor in the occurrence of timber theft, especially among people who live around or within the forest area. So that encourages them to steal wood in forest areas just to fulfill their daily needs. Second, weak law enforcement that regulates illegal logging practices. However, law enforcement that is currently happening in Indonesia is a law that is pointed downwards and blunt upwards. This means that there is no legal side for the small community, only rogue elements from the government level and rogue entrepreneurs who will escape the law, while people who are weak and have no legal force over the practice of illegal logging or timber theft are easily entangled by the law. Third, community empowerment efforts around the forest have not been optimal. Where people living around the forest basically depend on forest resources. Fourth, the monitoring system by the government is still not running well. So that if there are violations and deviations committed by certain government elements, it will be difficult to be determined as a clear witness.

The Effects of Illegal Logging

The existence of illegal logging is of course an impact on the environment and biodiversity. The effects of illegal logging include loss of soil fertility causing the soil to absorb too much sunlight so that it becomes very dry and arid. Until the nutrients in the soil easily evaporate. In addition, rain can wash away the remaining nutrients from the soil. Therefore, when the soil has lost a lot of nutrients, reforestation becomes difficult and cultivation on the land becomes impossible. Then the decline in water resources is also part of the impact of illegal logging because trees really contribute to maintaining the water cycle through tree roots absorbing water which is then channeled to the leaves, then evaporates and is released into the atmosphere. When trees are cut down and the area becomes arid, there is nothing left to help the soil absorb more water, thereby eventually causing a decrease in water resources. In addition, illegal logging also causes flooding because forests that function as water absorbers cannot absorb and store large amounts of water when heavy rains occur.

How to Prevent Illegal Logging

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After we know the impacts and factors that influence illegal logging above, we can find out how to prevent the illegal logging. The following are steps we can take to prevent illegal logging. First, conduct outreach to the community. It is very important to socialize to the community. Extension that discusses the dangers of illegal logging must be carried out more intensively. If awareness in the community has grown, this illegal logging can be avoided. This prevention must be carried out by all levels of society without exception. The role of village officials or local government is also very necessary. Appeals not to carry out illegal logging must continue to be carried out to prevent illegal logging from occurring. Then, after conducting counseling about the dangers of illegal logging, the community must be given an understanding to improve the forest. Communities or institutions that have carried out illegal logging must be held responsible for the damage done to the forest. Improvements can be made through actions such as reforestation or replanting in community forest areas, not littering, utilizing natural resources other than wood, and others. The active role of the community is also needed to overcome this illegal logging. The community is expected to play a role in monitoring and controlling together with the local government. All peoples must play an active role in this matter. Because if it is only done by one people, it is possible that illegal logging will occur again.