Changing Function of the Forest and Exploitation in East Coast Sumatra in Colonial Period

This article discusses the changes that occurred in the forests of the east coast of Sumatra during colonial period. An important question in this article is why has it been a change to the functioning of the forest?. What has the consequences of the change? This study uses the basic methods of history: heuristic, criticism, interpretation and historioghraphy. This research has used colonial documents and archives. The secondary data have been magazines and newspapers. The results of this research is the changes function of east coast Sumatra forest becaused colonial. The colonial successed to controlling the region. The defeat of the kingdom on the east coast Sumatra made it easy for the colonials to carry out a centralized bureaucratic system and the application of the capitalist economic system. Since 1871 the east coast of Sumatra until Indonesia independence expanded the plantations ranging from tobacco, rubber, etc. For the benefit of plantations and industry also began to be built office housing and road as well as railway. The area, which was formerly a forest, has been transformed into a destination for colonial economic benefits. It impacted the condition of forests, rivers, coastal areas and the sea. Most of the forest has been reduced which has an impact on river erosion and superficiality. Most of the rivers that were once a means of transportation are difficult and can no longer be sailed. Similarly, this shallowing has had an impact on the dwindling breed and number of fish that were once very easy to find on the seafront waters of the Malacca Straits.