Friday, December 29, 2006

Aceh Tamiang, Indonesia - Widespread deforestation and illegal logging is responsible for this week's flash floods that left nearly 200 people dead and hundreds of thousands displaced and homeless. The majority of the Aceh's forests have been clear cut by the timber industry. Many of the logs were purchased by the U.S., Europe, Japan, Taiwan or Mainland China.

Once the trees are cleared, the topsoil soon washes away and pollutes waterways destroying those eco-systems. When there isn't any topsoil to absorb rainwater it simply runs down hill and causes flooding.