Encroachment and Illegal Logging

Along the margin, I saw some paths entering the Park. At one entrance, I found a pile of planks. According to the farmers, the planks belonged to the merchants from the town. But, I believe they also involve in this illegal logging. It is not hard to find illegal logging activities in the Park; the chainsaws makes a loud noise, the paths are wide enough to see from a passing vehicle, and the planks are piled up by the public roads. I was wondering what the rangers have done to protect the Park.

The worst destruction of the forest is in Katu village. This village is located in the Park. The millions dollar project of the Asian Development Bank and the Nature Conservancy Project (1998 – 2005) failed to relocate the villagers. The impact is very obvious now. The area has become a hotspot of logging and forest conversion spreading rapidly. Sadly, the government seems bless this destruction by constructing a road and providing electricity to the village.