Don't Let Us Be Extinct

By Cintin Sakina - PILI Green Network for The Indonesian Nature Conservation Newsletter (INCL)

Torture and killing of orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) in East Kalimantan, Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros  sondaicus) and Sumatran tigers (Panthera tigris sumatrae) on the verge of extinction, an ironic news from Indonesia's biodiversity. Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) in East Kalimantan has confirmed that there was a genocide of orangutans in oil palm plantations. This organization has the proof in the form of photos, videos and information from local residents (TempoInteractive, Nov 21 2011). According to the Associated Press (Nov, 23 2011) of the men allegedly told authorities the owner of several oil palm plantations in Kalimantan Island which offered $ 100 for each orangutans were killed and $ 20 for each long-nosed proboscis monkey. If proven guilty of violating the Law on the Conservation of National Resources, they face up to five years in prison, said Sutirta. According to the National Police spokesman Inspector General Saud Usman Nasution "They receive Rp 200,000 [U.S. $ 22] to kill a monkey and Rp 1 million for the orangutans,".

Another shocking news about the population protected in Lampung Rhinos are endangered because of poaching that is not offset by severe penal sanctions. "The population of rhinos in Waykambas now about 30, and in the Bukit Barisan 80" said the chairman of the Indonesian Rhino Foundation, Widodo Ramono (Reuters, Nov 24 2011). "Rhinos are hunted and all the anatomy of the animal is used to treat unscrupulous human diseases," he added. In fact, Widodo added, the results of the study, none of the rhino's body parts to have efficacy in treating human disease.

Sumatran tigers are also experiencing a tragic fate. The Sumatran tiger population in the province of Bengkulu currently estimated at just 40, a provincial nature conservation official said. "According to estimates by an animal protection organization which endangered Sumatran tiger population in Bengkulu, about 40," said Head of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency Bengkulu (BKSDA) Amon Zamora (Reuters, Nov 24 2011). The Sumatran tiger is a tiger subspecies that inhabits the Indonesian island of Sumatra and has been classified as critically endangered by IUCN in 2008. It takes decisive action from the government in addressing this issue in safeguarding the survival of these animals and also needed support from humans to help animals that remain.

REDD+ Agency and 1.7 Billion Trees

By Cintin Sakina – PILI Green Network

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono have been established a REDD+ agency to support the country’s efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. REDD+ Task Force will run through December 31, 2012 and task force will be chaired by Kuntoro Mangkusubroto. “The task force is meant to set up the REDD institution, to coordinate arrangement of the REDD+ national strategy, to set up a financial instrument and monitoring agency and monitor implementation of REDD and of a new permit moratorium on peat lands and primary forests,” said Agus Purnomo, a presidential adviser on climate change. Agus added that as of June, the task force had only managed to finalize a forestry moratorium map, which identifies primary and peat forests for which no concessions may be issued between 2010 and 2012 (Jakarta Globe /September 13, 2011).

As part of its efforts to cut its gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020, the Indonesian government has been planting to rehabilitate its damaged forests. This year`s planting target is also set at 1.7 billion trees, those trees capable of absorbing about 47.6 billion tons of carbon gases. “I believe 90 percent of the 1.7 billion trees will grow. We have set ourselves the target of planting at least 1.7 billion trees this year. Hopefully, the number of trees that can grow will be far higher than last year,” Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said(Antara /September 15, 2011).

According to the minister each of the trees planted is able to absorb 28 tons of carbon gases per annum. Thus, if the 1.7 billion trees are successfully planted and grown they will be able to serve as home to 47.6 billion tons of carbon sinks. “One tree is able to absorb 28 tons of CO2 gas and hold 100 liters of water a year,” the minister said. Preservation of forests has an effect to the survival of animal species and he planting of trees is also crucial to human beings who breathe 10 tons of oxygen free of charge per annum and use about 10 liters of water a day, Minister Zulkifli said. Let’s support to cut gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020 and make Indonesia Green.