REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKASSAR -- The rate of forest destruction in South Sulawesi province has reached 10 percent, according to the Advocacy Division of the Environmental Forum (Walhi) for South Sulawesi.

"Damage to forests has been the main cause of natural disasters (flooding and earthquakes) in South Sulawesi. Hence, anticipatory steps should be taken," Muhammand Al Amin of Walhi said here on Thursday (22/1).

"Almost every week, people in North Luwu experience earthquakes while Jeneponto, Maros, Pangkep, Bulukumba, Sinjai, Bantaeng, Luwu, and East Luwu districts are effected by floods.

In the meantime, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has said that consistent cooperation under a single system is needed to preserve the environment, particularly forests.

"Consistent cooperation under one system involving all stakeholders can be efficient and effective in overcoming forest destruction," the minister said here on Thursday.

She emphasized there must be consistent cooperation between the government, business world, environmental activists, media, and other parties for handling problems affecting forests.

Siti Nurbaya stressed the involvement of all players and institutions in carrying out the analyses of damage to forests under a single leadership so as to address problems.

"We need to find out how to knit it with one leadership so as to prevent forest fires and preserve our ecosystem," she added.

She remarked that all parties, including the business world, must take part in the efforts to prevent forest fires and damage to the environment.

"There can be a good system involving the business world that knows the tools and ways, but it has not yet been knitted well," she noted.

The same is the case with the central and local governments. They should establish a strong collaboration and coordination, the minister added.

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