Nature Alert: Government to Involve Industry, Environmental Groups to Restore Forest

Thursday 19 November 2009

Government to Involve Industry, Environmental Groups to Restore Forest

Government to Involve Industry, Environmental Groups to Restore Forest

Wednesday, 18 November, 2009 | 18:32 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Forestry Department said the government is planning to restore about two million hectares of abandoned or destroyed forest areas within the next five years, by involving biggest private carbon emitters like the automotive industry and cigarette producers.

Minister Zulkifli Hasan said on Wednesday his department does not have enough sources to fund the program and will involve coorporations and environment groups. “If we ask for money they probably would not believe, but (in this program) we will invite them to get involved in restoring the forest. They could name the forest Toyota Forest, Sampoerna Forest for instance.”

One of the running forest rehabilitation program was the one in Jambi and South Sumatra managed by a bird protection group, while the upcoming program which will cover about 10,000 hectares in kalimantan will be managed by orangutan protection group.

The Forestry Department said of 301 forest concession areas about 104 were abandoned for expired license or inactive due to ongoing negotiation with the government.

http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2009/11/18/brk,20091118-209134,uk.html

Hall of Shame for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Palm Oil Industry.

Nothing can prepare one for the sight of the systematic extermination of orangutans by the government of Indonesia.

Look at the photos and news articles on these pages in the context of a statement the President made to the media on 10th December 2007.

“In the last 35 years about 50,000 orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely face extinction by 2050,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the launch of an orangutan conservation plan at the climate talks in Bali.

“The fate of the orangutan is a subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests … To save the orangutan we have to save the forest.”

Statements like these are most welcome, but unless backed up by action, such words fall on deaf ears within the Ministry of Forestry....who are busy granting licences to cut down the very forests the President says they should protect!

When you think you are to busy to help, please could you reflect for a moment on .........

The following extract refers to environmental problems in general. I just hope you find it as thought provoking and relevant to orangutans as I have.

"This is such a shocking and unpalatable fact that most people deny it, or they just don't want to think about it. They believe as individuals, they can do little about it, so push it to the back of their minds. But I can't do that.

When something has to be done, we need to do it. It doesn't matter how big the challenge is or how hard the solution; if I know something is wrong, and I am in a position to help, I will do my best to make it right." Duncan Bannatyne, successful British businessman.