Rizal Maslan/Fitri & BI, Jakarta – Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) blamed excessive exploitation on natural resources as well as environment degradation as on of the significant factors that cause spate of floods in Java and Sumatra recently. WALHI claimed that mono-culturisation process and indiscriminate plundering natural forests, as instances to cause these floods.

"For examples, mono-culturisation of pine trees in Purworejo, Central Java and rampant plundering of natural forest in Bung Hatta state forest as well as road constructions which cut through the hills," said Suwiryo Ismail, Deputy Director of WALHI in its press release receive by Detik, Friday..

Suwiryo believed that mass plantation of pine trees do not have any environment advantages. Rather it would create a disaster in certain condition and places, the fact that pine tree is known to absorb water much lesser than other forest species native to that region.

According to WALHI excessive forest plundering, unfriendly road constructions through the hills and reclaiming of ravines are also being blamed as one major cause of the floods. These activities worsened by the fact that there isn't any contingency plan to foresee natural disasters.

"Besides, the government is yet to be able to produce disaster map in every zones that are easily accessible by community," said Suwiryo.

Based on this fact, WALHI has proposed to government to immediately establish Emergency Respond Agency in areas prone to natural disasters. He said that this agency would be able to respond quickly when disasters struck in these areas. Suwiryo said another reason to set up this Agency due to the fact that the existing National Coordination Agency for Natural Disasters and National Search and Rescue Agency have not been fully functioned as well as not being well trained.

WALHI also suggests to the government, to produce maps to indicate areas frequented by natural disasters map. The group also suggests that natural disasters should be included as a perspective in the making of policies on natural resource management as well as environment and space management in certain region.

WALHI has urged the government to rehabilitate areas that have been damaged by deforestation and to restore forest's function as the basis of human support.