Sunday, December 29, 2024, at 18:30 WIB. The river overflowed in the village of Sarulla market, Pahae Jae District. Due to extreme weather and very high rainfall, the water discharge increases and causes flash floods.
The presence of pieces of wood carried away by flood currents indicates the occurrence of soil avalanches upstream of the river, possibly this is due to soil erosion, deforestation or extreme rainfall. This leads to the transport of sediments and wood materials downstream of the river
Soil erosion is generally triggered by DERESTATION, illegal logging, which results in a reduction in the ability of the soil to absorb rainwater. This provokes an increase in soil erosion, thereby increasing the risk of avalanches and floods. (Communnity Development Journal)
Deforestation disrupts the balance of forest ecosystems and hydrological cycles, exacerbating flood conditions and endangering the environment and surrounding communities. In the area of Jalan Lintas Sosopan, Batang Onan, Padang Lawas Utara regency, forest areas were also found to be cleared, indicating that there is a lack of supervision over forest protection.
Throughout 2024, North Sumatra Province (North Sumatra) experienced 677 disaster events, which affected 33 districts/cities. The occurrence of hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides, and strong winds that occur throughout 2024 is as many as 108 events. The potential for floods and landslides needs to be watched out for at the beginning of 2025 and the end of 2025 which is the rainy season period. While the potential for drought that will have an impact on agriculture and forest fires needs to be watched out for in the dry season in 2025 (Pemprovsu article, 2024).
Director of the Srikandi Lestari Foundation, stated that environmental damage due to illegal logging and deforestation has a very big impact, in North Sumatra province, some of the impacts include:
1) damage to ecosystems: the loss of forests means the loss of habitat for many species of flora and fauna, which increases the risk of extinction.
2) climate change: deforestation contributes to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, which accelerates global warming.
3) natural disasters: soils lose their ability to absorb water, increasing the risk of floods and landslides.
4) loss of livelihood: many local communities depend on forests for their daily needs.
Sustainable forest management is the solution to stop,deforestation, illegal logging and protect the environment. Government and community cooperation in stopping deforestation is a strategic step to protect the environment. (Kry)
