Nature Alert: Indonesian forests remain critical: Minister

Tuesday 10 February 2009

Indonesian forests remain critical: Minister

Personal note: As I have said before, I choose never to believe a word said by Minister Kaban. He is responsible for most deforestation. See articles below for more details. I suspect, it may not be long before the government asks the EU or Australia for money to plant replacement trees deliberately logged by the government of Indonesia!

----------------------------------------------------

Indonesian forests remain critical: Minister

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 02/08/2009

Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban warned Sunday of an imbalanced in the country’s ecosystem.

“About 30 million hectares of our forest are in critical condition, but we have managed to regreen 2.1 million hectares or about 10 percent of the critical area only,” Kaban was quoted by Antara as saying.

With the reforestation program requiring five years to cover 10 percent of critical forests, it will take the country another 45 years to complete the forest rehabilitation agenda.

“We need to work harder and involve the community,” he said during his visit to the East Java town of Pasuruan.

Kaban handed over thousands of tree seedlings to an Islamic boarding school and local residents.
A tree planting program that involved supporters of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), which Kaban heads, also marked the visit.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/08/indonesian-forests-remain-critical-minister.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.