Rainforests in Indonesia

by D
(Boston, MA, USA)

Rainforests in Indonesia contain thousands of animals and plants, and many more that have not been identified. There are rainforests in Sumatra, Borneo, Celebes, and Papua. As rich as it is, deforestation disfigures the forests.

Almost every day trees are being logged or cut down to grow homoculture farms, such as to produce palm oil and soy beans. Not only the habitats of the animals are being robbed, there is also little protection for indigenous people who live off the natural resources in the rainforests.

The central government is either playing blind or really ignorant. I witnessed firsthand how the local governments supposedly protecting the rainforests, making dirty deals to big corporations to cutting down trees much more than the maximum limit.

Other than through environmental organizations, it will be beneficial for the local people to attend awareness events about deforestation. Another way is also to crack down the corruption of local governments and big corporations that do not think about the future of local people, the habitat, and eventually everyone in the world who certainly worry about global warming.

It is not easy to take down corruptors, but maybe the freedom of speech by passionate journalists from around the world can help other countries understand the destruction rate of Indonesia's rainforests, thus pressuring Indonesia's central government to pass much stricter laws to protect the environment.

Barry's Response - Hopefully these individual countries come to realize the implications of the activities going on there and take it upon themselves to control them and their ramifications. Thanks, D, for your thoughts.



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