Aceh Tamiang, Ekuatorial – Forest Management Unit (FMU) of Region III Aceh seized 17 tons of illegal mangrove during forest surveillance operations in Aceh Tamiang, Aceh on September 14, 2015.
“Allegedly those illegal mangrove wood from protected forest and production forest in Pusong Kapal village mangrove area, Seruway, Aceh Tamiang,” said Head of FMU of Region III Aceh , Anas Mahmudin, in Langsa, Tuesday (15/9).
According to Anas, the operation was held in order to combat illegal logging there. “Maybe the operation plan already known, so that the perpetrators managed to escape and left tens of tons of mangrove wood before our personnel arrived,” he said.
Throughout this year, 35 tons of illegal mangrove have been seized from the forest area in East Aceh. Meanwhile, FMU of Region III Aceh has been handed over the investigation process to the police in the local jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, Maksum from NGO of Tamiang Peduli revealed that illegal logging makes the fishermen in Pusong Kapal village worry because the twigs and leaves of mangrove left lying in the river channel. “Government should close the mangrove charcoal production workshop along the East Coast of Aceh so that illegal logging can be stopped,” he said. According to him, those workshops owned by businessmen who do not have permission. Ivo Lestari