When people think of smuggling exotic species, they tend to think of animals. But the illegal plant and timber trade is actually just as common and damaging. Recently, authorities in Indonesia were able to halt an illegal shipment with help from everyday citizens.

A joint operation between Indonesia's Maritime Security Agency and the Ministry of Forestry thwarted an attempt to smuggle hundreds of undocumented logs at a port in the city of Batam, according to Batam News Asia.

The operation swung into action after a tip from a member of the public who witnessed suspicious activity and the logs being transported from a ship to some trucks. The authorities found 99 Meranti logs and 344 mixed hardwood logs, all without permits in violation of several of the country's laws.

"This successful operation shows how citizen reports strengthen law enforcement efforts to safeguard our forests," Major Bakamla Yuhanes Antara told Batam News Asia. "It's a collective commitment to stop forest resources from being plundered for private gain."

According to the WWF, the illegal lumber trade is the third-largest transnational crime, after counterfeiting and drugs, estimated to be worth between $50 billion and $150 billion annually. It also reports that up to 90% of tropical deforestation is due to illegal logging, and the loss disrupts the ecosystems and biodiversity of those forests and beyond.

Apart from the work put in by government officials to put a stop to the illegal lumber trade, the other key factor is the community working together to support those actions and protect their local environment. Being involved with protecting the environment secures a better future for every living thing on the planet.

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People are coming together in unique ways to achieve this goal, benefiting one another personally and sometimes economically, too. Indonesia launched a program in 2022 that paid fishers to remove plastic trash from waterways, thereby protecting both aquatic health and human health.

Across the world, more and more people are stepping up together. For example, a group of women in Nigeria is working to restore mangrove trees in areas affected by logging, oil spills, and invasive plants, successfully planting at least 2.6 million trees since 2018.

When we work together, we can make serious changes, from something as small as using less plastic to affecting legislation.

Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty?

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