UPDATE: Indonesia's Rainforests and Orangutans Still Gravely Threatened
The Indonesian government recently announced it was abandoning plans to destroy 1.8 million hectares of rainforest by establishing oil palm plantations in prime orangutan habitat. While political maneuvering continues by those supporting the project (as no rainforest is protected, particularly in Indonesia, for long), this strategic victory is encouraging and important.
We believe the Indonesian government should be taken at its word, even as we work to consolidate this initial victory and to otherwise protest the state of Indonesia's rainforests which are in dire crisis. Ecological Internet asks that you send the Indonesian President a congratulatory email making further policy requests. It is important the project cancellation is formalized and permanently laid to rest, and the ancient rainforests that were threatened are given permanent protected status that is effectively implemented.
Please also express support for the Indonesian government's recent preliminary announcement of its participation in the "Heart of Borneo" tri-country conservation initiative which aims to preserve one of the most important centers of biological diversity in the world, covering approximately 220,000 km2 of rainforests and numerous wildlife species including the critically endangered orangutan. To be maximally effective the rainforest movement must acknowledge progress, however tentative and inadequate, even as we intensify our efforts.
Comments
Have been looking for a comprehensive environmental blog and finally have found it here. You now have a link on my site, with best wishes, The Artist.
Posted by: Winsome Gunning | April 6, 2006 4:58 AM
Absolutely, we need to congratulate good behaviour as well as protest at bad behaviour. This is not a time for being cynical.
Posted by: Alex Lee | April 6, 2006 6:55 AM
Thank you for not destroying the rain forest. Please keep it this way. Now all your wildlife will be safe. You have made a great decision and I praise you highly for it. I hope to visit your great country someday so I can see how beautiful it is. Thank You!
Posted by: Joyce Berry | April 6, 2006 10:07 AM
Although the orangutans are good for popular appeal, don't forget that enormous numbers of invertebrate species are also threatened by the development-colorful land snails, giant butterflies, etc. Freshwater and land mollusks are among the most endangered groups of organisms worldwide, with about 70% of the 30,000 or so species at risk, endangered, or already extinct. Borneo is known to have several endemic species, and thousands more are probaly undiscovered if they have not already been lost to habitat destruction.
Posted by: David Campbell | April 6, 2006 11:32 AM
This is great. Please can I have some addresses to write to the Government to congratulate them.
Claire
Posted by: Claire Bleakley | April 6, 2006 4:04 PM
Many thanks as ever 4 all your devoted work on our behalf. Suze
Posted by: Suze | April 8, 2006 7:20 AM
Not sure if you get many thank yous, but thank you for allthat you do.
sincerely, ildiko papp
Posted by: ildiko papp | April 8, 2006 7:24 AM