BALI - Disappearing Jungles

Balidiscovery.com,11/19/2006)

According to a report in Tempo Interaktif, 10,000 hectares of a total 130,686 hectare of jungle land has been lost to farming over the past several decades.

"Much jungle land has been converted to growing bananas, grass, cocoa, flowers, coffee and vanilla," explained the Head of Bali's forestry Department, Made Sulendra.

According to Sulendra, the conversion of jungle lands results in a lessened soil fertility and the loss of these lands as areas of water retention. The forestry expert blames this unfortunate situation on the lack of clarity in Bali land use and zoning planning (RTRW).

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