Illegal mining activities seriously damage Kalimantan forests

Activities of unauthorized gold miners in Bukit Batu district in Kota Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan have seriously damaged the environment in the area. At least 1,000 hectares of forests in the location have turned into desert area due to illegal mining operations, Kompas reported on Tuesday.

At least 500 families have moved into the area to hunt for gold reserves and the number might further increase because some 12,000 families who are now conducting illegal mining activities in Ampalit district in Katingan regency have started to relocate their activities in the Bukit Baru district.

According to Kompas, most of the illegal miners carry out their activities in a state forest area formerly owned by forest company PT Suka Budi Mulia.

The local government should take a strict measure to curb such illegal mining activities, if not larger part of the forests in Central Kalimantan would be damaged. The activities of the illegal miners who mostly use uncontrollable of mercury in the processing of their finds would also cause a serious pollution into the local rivers. (*)