Illegal Logging Practices in the Southern Part of West Sumatra

Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) along with Gunung Leuser National Park (GLNP) and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS) were designated as |UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2004. However, due to the high threat to the integrity of the national park areas, IUCN-UNESCO recommended TNKS, TNGL, and TNBBS be included in the World Heritage in Danger list in 2011.

The decline in forest cover in this area, especially TNKS, is thought to be due to massive illegal activities in the form of illegal logging. In West Sumatra, this illegal activity is acute in the TNKS area in Pesisir Selatan Regency. As a result, the southernmost district of West Sumatra is subject to flooding.

In March 2021, a major flood occurred in an area directly adjacent to TNKS, precisely in the Ranah Ampek Hulu Tapan and Basa Ampek Balai Tapan sub-districts, South Coastal district. The flood also carried wooden logs suspected of coming from TNKS. This assumption is based on the type of wood and the origin of the wood. These meranti and surian logs hit several houses, causing severe damage.

The results of the West Sumatra distaster management agency (BPBD) review showed that several points of TNKS forest cover, precisely in the upper reaches of the Sako river, had been cleared. The initial suspicion is that this deforested area is the former site of illegal logging activities.