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Batak Church forestry in Sumatra
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Erosion due to loss of tree cover threatens the
future of the beautiful volcanic Lake Toba, and
its central island Samosir
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This project, led by the indigenous Batak Church, is
restoring forests to the hillsides around Lake Toba and
on Samosir Island, to combat soil erosion and water
scarcity that is especially severe during the dry
seasons. The erosion is largely due to intentional
burning of vegetation by local people, to make way for
grassland for their free-roaming buffaloes and goats,
and to cultivate food crops. The clearing of land has
increased as local people have less alternative
livelihoods due to much reduced tourism-related
activities around Lake Toba.
The Huria
Kristen Batak Protestan (HKBP) Church is the largest
Lutheran Church in Asia, with nearly 3,000 mainly rural
congregations amounting to 3 million members in the
Batak country of North Sumatra.
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At 100 kilometres long, the lake is the
largest is South East Asia and one of the
deepest and highest in the world, being 905 m
above sea level
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The environment of Lake Toba under threat
In Sumatra, as elsewhere in South East Asia, the
environment is under siege from heavy industry and poor
land management. The effects of forest clearance,
over-farming, soil erosion, mining, and industrial waste
pollution combine to threaten the future of Lake Toba,
one of the world’s most beautiful freshwater lakes.
At 100 kilometres long, the lake is the
largest is South East Asia and one of the deepest and
highest in the world, being 905 m above sea level.
Culturally the lake and the island of Samosir are
important heritage areas for the Batak people who live
in North Sumatra.
Industrial pollution
In particular the paper industry is harming the
environment. Indorayon’s paper mill, known as Toba Pulp
Lestari, is a major polluter and is hotly opposed by
local environmental pressure groups. Other hazards are
illegal logging, widespread use of chemical fertilizers
and unregulated grazing and burning.
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