Campaign to Stop Ladia Galaska and Save Gunung Leuser from Illegal Logging Write letters to help save Leuser Bukit Lawang/Bohorok Flood News Online Petition to Save Leuser Article about Leuser, December 2002 Orangutan Cultures Press Release: January 02, 2003 Orangutan Cultures online articles, January 3, 2003
Press Release from Dr. Carel van Schaik, June 1999 Report on Illegal Logging in Indonesia by EIA Suggested reading regarding orangutans at Suaq Balimbing |
WALHI-Friends of the Earth Indonesia Calls on World Support to Save What's Left of Indonesian Forest, 21 January 2004 http://savetheorangutan.com/index2.php?id=197
ORANGUTANS DOOMED, SAY EXPERTSUNLESS IMMEDIATE ACTION TAKENThe world’s top experts in orangutan conservation, ecology, and behavior gathered in Jakarta, Indonesia this week to assess the status of Asia’s only great apes. New survey data and computer modeling techniques revealed a bleak outlook for this charismatic primate. Wild populations of orangutans are found only in the tropical forests on the islands of Borneo and Sumatra, and all populations are under severe threat. New data on the rate of deforestation has confirmed the prediction that, unless action is taken to reverse the decline, Sumatran orangutans are likely to be the first great ape to become extinct in the wild. For the Bornean species, there was both good and bad news. Prof. Carel van Schaik of Duke University, USA, explained, "The estimated number of orangutans in Borneo today is higher than we thought a decade ago, but that doesn’t mean that the actual number is higher. In fact the bad news is that, from the loss of habitat we conclude there are at least one third fewer than there were a decade ago." Prof. Birute Mary Galdikas, President of Orangutan Foundation International (www.orangutan.org), added, "The problem is that habitat loss is accelerating. It would be easy to be pessimistic, but since President Megawati ordered the National Police Chief to clear illegal loggers from protected areas last February, the number of loggers in Tanjung Puting National Park has plummeted and the decrease in illegal activity in this Park is real. But sadly, in most areas of Indonesian Borneo, illegal logging is still rampant." The main threats to orangutans are habitat loss, forest degradation, fires, and poaching. Habitat loss is primarily due to clear cutting of the forest for agricultural plantations - mostly palm oil. Illegal logging is rapidly degrading remaining primary forest. Refugee orangutans are forced into small, isolated patches of forest, most of which are too small to ensure their long-term survival. Only a few biologically viable populations of orangutans remain. Currently almost none of these populations are sufficiently well managed and adequately protected. Devastating forest fires, such as those in Indonesia and Malaysia during 1997 and 1998, still remain a serious potential threat and poaching for the illegal pet trade continues. At this moment, nearly 1,000 orphan orangutans live in rescue and rehabilitation centers. Most are infants and juveniles. It is estimated that at least 5 individuals die for every orphan that reaches these centers. Dr. Willie Smits, Chairman of Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) - Indonesia, declared passionately, "From the number of orangutans confiscated and smuggled in 2003, I estimate that 6000 were lost from the wild last year. What does this mean? Without immediate action, the orangutans are doomed." The experts made urgent recommendations to halt the decline,
including: · Orangutan Scientific Commission formed and seed funding
secured for two coordinators, one Malaysian and one Indonesian, to
maintain the momentum of the workshop, and assist in developing the
National Great Ape Survival Plans called for by GRASP*.
The meeting was a PHVA - a Population and Habitat Viability Assessment -Workshop, organized by the IUCN SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (www.cbsg.org), funded by the Gibbon Foundation (www.gibbon.or.id) and BOS (Borneo Orangutan Survival) Foundation (www.savetheorangutan.info) and held at The Schmutzer Primate Centre, Jakarta. For the first time, a concerted effort had been made before the PHVA to survey all orangutan populations across the entire orangutan range. The new surveys were funded by Orangutan Foundation (UK) (www.orangutan.org.uk). The meeting adopted the new taxonomy for orangutans, recognizing the three described subspecies of Bornean orangutan Pongo pygmaeus, and the Sumatran orangutan as a separate species, Pongo abelii. * GRASP is the UNEP/UNESCO Great Ape Survival Project (www.unep.org/grasp) For more information on orangutan research, see www.orangutannetwork.net For detailed scientific information please contact: Dr Carel van Schaik via email: vschaikATdukeDOTedu; Prof Birute Mary Galdikas +1 323 938 6046 or email: siswoyoATaolDOTcom; Dr Willie Smits +62 21 788 47105 or email: priinfoATprimataDOTorDOTid NGOs take Aceh government to court over Ladia GalaskaThey had a brief hearing on 3 November 2003, with another hearing planned for November 17th. The results from the online petition are being translated to Bahasa Indonesia for distribution to local media and presentation to the judge during the hearing on Monday, November 17th. Ladia Galaska has become a major issue of concern in Indonesian national and Aceh provincial environmental news since the Bohorok flood. Now is a crucial time to write letters to the Indonesian officials who are involved in the Ladia Galaska debate, including the Minister of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure, the Minister of Environment, the Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs, the governor of Aceh and the president of Indonesia.Reports confirm ‘Deforestation in Indonesia Worst in the World’ -- World Heritage Site proposal for Gunung Leuser.An ill-conceived plan to build roads through the Leuser Ecosystem now threatens to fragment and disrupt remaining orangutan habitat. Worldwide campaigns have generated nearly 20,000 letters, e-mails and petition signatures!From SKEPHI, May 8, 2003On May 7, 2003, the Indonesian NGO Alliance Against the Ladia Galaska Road Plan (SKEPHI and other Indonesian NGOs) had a hearing with the Sub-commission on Environmental Affairs (of the Commission VIII) of the Indonesian Parliament, which works on issues related to environment, technology, mining, etc. The sub-commission does not have authority to make decisions, but promised to bring the issue up in Commission VIII, then communicate it to the other related commissions: Commission I (Defense affairs, etc.) and Commission IX (State budgetting issues), among others. They will: 1. Request that the Ministry of Finance to block (permanently) all money related to the making of the road. (Road money 2003 may have been blocked), and request that Finance ministry give clarification of road money disbursed in 2001-2002; 2. Ask the Army not to become involved in road making which cuts through the Leuser Ecosystem; 3. Insist that the Government to adhere to national environmental laws, etc. SKEPHI is still looking for opportunities to present signatures to the President of the Republic. Some have already been delivered to people close to President Megawati. A petition to the World Bank Group has been online since December 9, 2002. We have over 5,400 valid signatures. Thank you for helping to save Leuser!The Sumatran
Orangutan Society is in a cash-flow crisis. Please donate
what you can to help them. They are continuing to work on this issue.
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