Lore Lindu National Park on brink of ruin

Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post, Palu

The natural beauty of Lore Lindu National Park, one of a handful of flora and fauna conservation centers in Sulawesi, has for years been threatened by development initiatives.

However, if South Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju has his way, the park, located 60 kilometers to the south of South Sulawesi's capital Palu, will be given a chance to flourish once again.

Last week, Paliudju said based on an existing law on environmental protection, the residents of Dongi-Dongi, a section of the park, would be relocated.

Dongi-Dongi was converted into a residential area in 2001.

At the time, even the South Sulawesi chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), a non-governmental organization, supported plans for development.

Walhi representatives said they believed the Dongi-Dongi area could be developed because a forest concession holder once operated in the area.

"It is not wrong if an area which used to be logged is used by local people who do not have any land," an unidentified member of the organization said in 2001.

However, six years on, the governor said the national park must be protected and any development in the area is illegal.

"Residents will be moved to the South Banawa district in Donggala," he said.

In order to relocate the residents, Paliudju said, his administration had deliberated thoroughly with the Donggala regental administration.

"All parties agreed with the relocation plan," he said.

However, Dongi-Dongi residents disagree, saying they were not consulted about the relocation.

Kuasa Ratalemba, a Dongi-Dongi resident, said he strongly opposes the plan.

"We enjoy living here. Our presence is not destroying this forest. We are maintaining it properly," he said.

Compared with other national parks in Indonesia, Lore Lindu, spanning 217,991 hectares, is medium sized.

The park sits between 200 meters and 2,610 meters above sea level. It serves as the water catchment area for Palu, Donggala and Poso.

The Lariang, Gumbasa and Palu rivers pass through the park, which is rich in flora and fauna.

It is home to various types of native animals, such as deer hogs, ghost monkeys, kuskus, kera kakak tonkea, kuskus marsupial and the biggest carnivorous animal in Sulawesi -- the civet cat.

The park is also home to at least five species of squirrel, 31 species of rat, 55 species of bat and 230 types of birds. ***