This story excerpt was translated from bahasa Indonesia. The original story was printed in Media Indonesia. You may also view the original story on the Rainforest Journalism Fund website here. Our website is available in English, Spanish, bahasa Indonesia, French, and Portuguese.
The Herman Johannes Grand Forest Park has been the target of looting by its surrounding local community. The protected park has been used as settlement area by the locals.
“Look, this is a proof of looting,” said YeriKeo, 44, pointing at the stump of a teak tree with traces of chainsaw.
New shoots of about 1 meter high have grown on the the edge of the stump, but on the other stumps, a new shoot grew into new trees. The 1-meter-high shoot is no less than 10 years old, but the young shoots are about 1 year old. Not far from there, there is a path that divides the field, a trace toward residents' gardens.
Yeri came with reporters to the Herman Johannes Forest Park located in the Village of Kotabes, Districtof Amarasi, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, to provide the evidence of looting in the protected park.