Indonesian Forest Crisis Hits Orangutans
11/24/98
OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by EE
The rapid decline of orangutan populations is indicative of the very
sharp diminishment of the Indonesian forest ecosystem. Up to 80% of
the orangutans' habitat has been lost in the last 20 years. The
astonishing and parallel economic decline is also entwined, as
unsustainable resource liquidation fueled an artificially high period
of economic growth, which has now trailed off. The ability of the
population to enjoy the benefits of intact ecosystems has largely been
lost, along with the hopes of sustainably managing what had been a
tremendous forest resource base. Other countries with remaining
expansive forested areas would be well served to study the history of
boom and bust forest development that has played itself out repeatedly
worldwide.
g.b.
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Title: INDONESIA: Forest Crisis Hits Orangutans
Source: Rainforest Information Centre (http://forests.org/ric/)
Summary of Environmental Investigation Agency report
Status: Distribute freely credited to sources
Date: November 23, 1998
A new report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) warns
that orangutans face possible extinction within 20 years. Habitat
destruction is the primary threat to their survival and the EIA has
called on the new Indonesian government to implement immediately its
International Orangutan Conservation Action Plan. Widespread
corruption among the Indonesian elite is a major barrier to the
success of the EIA's action plan. Logging, land conversion for palm
oil plantations, and mega-development projects are the main threats to
Indonesian forests, and corruption is rife in all these areas.
Campaigns to save "charismatic megafauna" like orangutans are an
integral part of the wider campaign to protect forests because the
survival of animals like orangutans is not possible unless their
habitat survives.
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The EIA's 52-page report, The Politics of Extinction: The Orangutan
Crisis and the Destruction of Indonesia's Forests, found
that:
* The wild orangutan population has declined by up to 50% in the last
decade. In is now estimated that 15-25,000 orangutans survive
in the wild. Over 80% of them are found in Kalimantan and Sumatra.
* Up to 80% of the orangutans' habitat has been lost in the last 20
years.
* Government-backed conversion of forests for commercial logging and
plantations caused the devastating fires of 1997-8.
* Orangutans are also threatened by capture for the pet trade,
persecution as agricultural pests and poaching for food.
* Indonesia,s 100 million hectares of forests represent 10% of the
world's remaining tropical forest cover.
* Over 70% of Indonesia's "frontier" forest (displaying original
ecological features) has been lost.
* Indonesia is losing about 1 million hectares of forest annually.
* Indonesia has the world's longest list of species threatened with
extinction, including the sumatran tiger, Asian elephant, Sumatran
and Javan rhino, clouded leopard, sunbear and orangutan. Habitat
destruction is driving the species decline.
The report examines the corruption and nepotism in the timber industry
and the palm oil industry. It also discusses the infamous Kalimantan
mega-rice project (see WRR 39) and the causes of the forest fires.
The International Orangutan Action Plan calls for:
* Full implementation of Indonesia's laws regarding the protection of
forests and orangutans
*A National Board for Wildlife chaired by the environment minister and
involving NGOs biologists, ecologists and community leaders.
* International financial institutions to ensure that investments and
aid are dependent on strict environmental, social and economic
conditions.
* The elimination of illegal logging, land conversion and the use of
fire for land clearance.
* An urgent assessment of the socio-economic and environmental value
of non-wood forest products.
* Measures to protect forests, including the extension of protected
forests to cover at least 15% of the country's ecologically
representative forests, a review of forestry practices, the promotion
of independent forest certification schemes.
* Wealthy nations to acknowledge the heavy responsibility they have to
provide aid and assistance for these measures.
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Source: The EIA's report, The Politics of Extinction: The Orangutan
Crisis and the Destruction of Indonesia's Forests
Contacts: EIA in the UK: 69 Old St., London EC1V 9HX, tel: 0171 490
7040 fax: 0171 490 0436 email: eiauk@gn.apc.org
EIA in the USA: PO Box 53343, Washington DC 20000, tel: 202 483 6621
fax: 202 483 6625 email: eiaus@igc.apc.org