Environmentalists decry gold mining in Lampung naitonal park

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post 1 Apr 10;

Conservationists in Lampung are up in arms over the resumption of gold mining in the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, saying the activity threatens the area’s ecosystem.

“Gold mining in the forest is destroying the ecosystem,” Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) campaign manager Mukri Friatna said recently.

“We have proof that gold-mining activities carried out by PT Natarang Mining in the park from 2006 to 2008 have damaged the forest.”

He added the Lampung Forestry Office should be held accountable for breaching the mining ban in the national park by granting concessions in the area to miners.

“The company had initially stopped mining after protests from the public and environmental groups,” Mukri said.

Lampung Forestry Office head Hanan A. Razak said the provincial administration had allowed gold mining within a 40-hectare area in the national park, which straddles West Lampung and Tanggamus regencies, saying it would bring significant economic benefits for the people of Lampung.

Hanan added the mining activities were legitimate under the forestry law.

“The mining is carried out underground so it doesn’t affect trees aboveground,” he claimed.

“We issue the concessions, and we benefit from the economic activities entailed.”

Natarang Mining previously explored a 40-hectare concession in Tanggamus before it was forced to stop in 2008.

“The concession is right next to the national park so any activity there severely threatens the park,”said Walhi Lampung director Hendrawan.

“Part of the concession overlapped into the park.”

He added gold mining in the national park would aggravate the problem of illegal logging and lead to greater threats to the wildlife.

“The illegal loggers at work in the area have already encroached into the habitat of the wild elephants,” Hendrawan said.

“So if we get gold miners in there too, the elephants’ mobility will be severely restricted and we’re going to see more incidents of elephants stampeding in villages and farms.”

Tanggamus resident Meza Swastika said he had noticed more guard posts and helipads in the area.
“It’s a given that mining will cause environmental damage,” he said.

“Plus they’re going to disturb a historical site that most locals believe dates back to the Majapahit Kingdom.”