Nature Alert: Greenpeace Indonesia petitions SBY to stop forest destruction

Monday, 18 May 2009

Greenpeace Indonesia petitions SBY to stop forest destruction

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 05/18/2009

The Indonesian chapter of environmental conservationist group Greenpeace has on Monday petitioned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to issue a policy that would temporarily ban deforestation and other forest conservation policies.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Joko Arif told Antara news agency that the petition, signed by 60,000 forest conservation sympathizers, was handed over to State Secretary Correspondence chief Sri Haryati.

According to Arif, the petition urges the government to make swift actions against further destruction of forests so as to ease climate change and safeguard biodiversity.

"The destruction of Indonesian forests occur up to five times the size of a soccer field at each given minute," Arif said, adding that Indonesia's forest make up 120.35 million hectares of land or close to the size of the UK, Germany, France and Finland altogether.

The environmental activist argued that the organization has actively lobbied the government to halt all deforestation activities since two years ago but to no avail. (amr)

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/05/18/greenpeace-indonesia-petitions-sby-stop-forest-destruction.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.