-- --------- Forwarded Message --------- DATE: Fri, 24 Nov 2000 13:28:03 From: "fitri" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <undisclosed-recipients:;> Sent: Friday, November 24, 2000 12:21 PM Subject: Environmental Degradation: Riau's Disappearing Islands > Detikworld, November 23, 2000 > > Environmental Degradation: Riau's Disappearing Islands > > Reporter: Chaidir Anwar Tanjung / BI & GB > > Pekanbaru - Seven islands in Riau province have disappeared completely since > 1980 due to environmental degradation caused by excessive oil drilling > offshore, contamination of the sea by oil tankers, the clearance and > destruction of mangrove areas and the disappearance of coral reefs. > > The worrying news was announced by the Director of the Indonesian Forestry > Study Institute (LPHI) Region I Sumatra, Andreas Heri Kahuripan to detikworld > on Thursday (23/11/2000). He claimed that three of these islands are > nameless. The other islands are Nipah, Payung, Pelampung and Sinaboy. > > Kahuripan said mangrove and swamp areas that are critical for the ecological > system in this region are also disappearing and that this has been caused by > crude oil leaks from oil tankers or from the oilrigs. > > "Due to this washed up crude oil, the mangrove forests in Riau have been > damaged. The disappearing mangrove forests caused the tide to reach on to the > higher ground as there are no (natural) barriers," said Kahuripan. > > He said that in 1970 Bangkau Island, then with covering 2,000, hectares was > inhabited by at least 140 families. This island was submerged and most of the > residents have relocated to Bangkau Jaya on the main land. > > Kahuripan then gave the example of Muntai village, Rubat sub-district, within > the regency of Bengkalis to highlight that the problem is affecting Riau at > present also. This village is located on the coastline of Riau province and > he said that the rising tide has reached 7 kms inland. As a result, hectares > of fertile land used for rice farming have been destroyed. These man-made > disasters have permanently destroyed irrigation systems necessary for rice > farming and caused devastating salinity. This has in turn forced hundreds of > local residents to abandon the area. > > Thus far, the Riau provincial government has not been very concerned over the > issue, which is immensely disturbing to Kahuripan. Riau province is made up > of 3000 islands and more than a thousand are inhabited by humans. The > government's lack of concern and failure to anticipate the impacts of the > phenomena might result in the disappearance of other islands in the region. > > Andreas believes that the damage to coral in this region has been so > extensive that it caused the government to lose US$12 million. The coral > reefs have been damaged by the massive exploitation of the region's sand and > offshore oil rigs. > > Kahuripan accused state-owned oil company Pertamina and PT Kondur Petroleum > of being responsible for the destruction on the coral. "These two companies > have been drilling offshore. Because of this drilling, most of the coral has > been destroyed," he said. > > Andreas hoped that the Department of Marine Exploration and Fisheries would > immediately control sand exploration and monitor offshore drilling with > greater care. If these activities are not uncontrolled, these small islands > that make up Riau province will disappear forever. --------- End Forwarded Message --------- Get FREE Email/Voicemail with 15MB at Lycos Communications at http://comm.lycos.com --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mulai langganan: kirim e-mail ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop langganan: kirim e-mail ke [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archive ada di http://www.mail-archive.com/envorum@ypb.or.id
