The alarming fact is that Sumatra's lowland rainforest is being cut down at an astronomical rate, so much so that it could be totally removed in as few as 5 years! Illegal logging is a huge problem in and around Bulit Tigapuluh and between 10-20% of the park has been destroyed as a result. There is nothing in the way of law enforcement and policing of illegal logging.

Eight new illegal sawmills have been opened along the road to the Park this year, bringing the total to more than 20. Due to illegal logging vast areas of this forest have already been destroyed to make way for palm oil and rubber plantations and to feed the insatiable pulp and timber industries.

Traditional lifestyles, already dwindling, will be abandoned as the environment becomes so degraded that it can no longer support them. The destruction of the park will have colossal implications for the communities that live there, as well as the diversity of nature that it protects. The native communities will be forced to leave their homes and rare species will be lost forever.

Rafflesia have never been propagated or kept alive outside of their natural habitat. For this reason rafflesia will always require an intact forest if they are to survive. Many of the plants used in medicines which could reveal cures for the western world may also be lost in the destruction.

Animals will be driven out and their habitats destroyed. Soon they will starve and die out as the remaining areas are unable to support them.