Tree Bark Theft Increasingly Widespread

MADIUN, KOMPAS – Environmental damage in the upstream area of the slopes of Mt. Wilis is being caused by tree bark theft. Because of the theft, trees have died and the condition of the land is now critical and prone to landslides.

Such conditions were found in Kare district, Madiun regency, East Java, from Thursday (13/4/2017) to Monday (17/4). As seen from a distance of hundreds of meters, some of the natural vegetation cover had brown and yellow leaves, signifying that the trees were dying and about to fall down.

The bark of Persea odoratissima Kosterm trees is highly sought after among tree bark hunters, who often take the trees’ outer bark and then leave the tree to die. Some or the trees have their bark wholly “peeled”, from the trunks to the smallest branches up above. Some others are peeled only on the trunks.