Nature Alert: Tens of thousands hectares of forests in Muaraenim damaged

Friday 12 February 2010

Tens of thousands hectares of forests in Muaraenim damaged

Tens of thousands hectares of forests in Muaraenim damaged

Friday, February 12, 2010 05:51 WIB | Environment |

Muaraenim, S Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Some 53,334 hectares of state conversion forests in the production forests of PT Musi Hutan Persada (PT MHP) in Muaraenim regency, South Sumatra, were heavily damaged by illegal logging activities.

"Already 70 pct of the forests in Muaraenim were seriously damaged, because of the 76,191 ha forests, only 30 percent remains intact or 22,857 ha," Ahmad Mirza of the Muaraenim forestry service said here Thursday.

Under forestry ministerial decree no 1775/Menhut/VIII/2001, forest management had been entrusted to the Muaraenim regency administration for development into a Special Bee Development Center.

He said the forest damage was caused by the stealing hundreds of cubics of pinus trees of the Inhutani.

"Now the forest is finished to have been cut by irresponsible people, but the Muaraenim police managed to seize 10 trucks loaded with logs, and arrested the 23 of the perpetrators" he added.

The police is currently interrogating five witnesses, but for the lack of evidence, the police had difficulties in naming illegal logging suspects. (*)

http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1265928675/tens-of-thousands-hectares-of-forests-in-muaraenim-damaged

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.