Antara 12 Aug 10;
Kuangtang Singingi, Riau (ANTARA News) - From day to day, habitat of Sumatran tiger or Panthera Tigris Sumatrae in Betabuh Bukit forest state, Kuantan Singingi, Riau, become more endangered since the forest encroachment.
According to World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Riau office`s spokesperson, Syamsidar, 25 thousand acres of forest is set as the state forest in 1997. WWF research found that the water absorbing forest territory is used by the Singingi sub-district and also as the potential area for Sumatran Tiger habitat
"According to intensive WWF`s research since last year, we can say that at least 10 Sumatran tiger live in the area. There are hundreds of photo and video to support this result.", said Syamsidar in Kuantan Singingi on Wednesday.
In addition, he said, the number of tiger in this area is bigger that tiger that was found in Tigapuluh Hill National Forest (TNBT). Based on WWF research, there are just 8 sumatran tiger in TNBT.
"The research in TNBT needs three years to detect 8 Sumatran tigers, while the research on Bukit Betabuh just begun from last year," he added.
WWF predict that there are more number of tigers that live in the area because the tigers` footprints that found in road path in Bukit Betabuh.
The footprints are bigger than footprints from other tigers from other region. Besides, the video that WWF put since last year also record the parent and its child went outside in the same time.
But unfortunately, the expanding of palm plantation to this region threatened the live hood of this protected animals, he said
The area of palm plantations in Bukit Betabuh forest state is spreading until 100 acres. According to Darno (42), one of the worker, the owner of the palm plantation is Akim and Cipto. Both are businessman from Baserah who lived in Pekanbaru.
"There was Forestry Office in this area. They said that the palm plantation against the rule, but now there?s no continuity action." Darno said while laughing.
According to plantation supervisor, Sigit, he doesn`t know that the palm plantation is part of the forest state. His job is just to supervise the plantation area with his 14 co-workers.
Based on ANTARA monitoring from the entry gate to the Bukit Betabuh area, there is no signpost showing that the area is a forest state. Local people said that the signpost has been pull out by strangers few years ago.
60,000 trees for critical Sumatran tiger’s habitat
WWF 13 Aug 10;
Jakarta, Indonesia – A three-month old initiative by WWF in Indonesia and Germany has led to the planting of almost 60,000 new trees as part of efforts to reforest critical tiger habitat on the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Known as “Forest Friends”, the initiative is targeted at 18 to 25 year-old youths using social networking tools. Under the initiative, three youths each from Indonesia and Germany were selected, after an intense month-long selection, to compete for fans and raise support for forest conservation through blogging. Through Forest Friends, which is also accessible on Facebook, the youths communicate and share their views via articles, video and photo uploads.
“WWF sees social networking media as an opportunity to extend its conservation messages to younger audiences,” said Dr. Efransjah, WWF Indonesia’s Chief Executive. “Internet and social networking sites enable real-time, fast and fun communication around the world, and offer a very efficient and effective way to share WWF’s message. The online initiative also allows our youths to communicate and engage in dialogues across national borders.”
Working in pairs – one youth from each of the two countries – the six youths have, since May, been sharing their views and practical tips on forest and biodiversity conservation, and asking fellow youths to show real commitment and contribution to save the Earth. For each fan they receive, WWF and its partners will pledge to plant 10 trees in Tesso Nilo National Park, a critical tiger habitat on Sumatra.
“The competition has enabled the six finalists to form friendships and bond through sharing information on forest conservation, environmentally-friendly lifestyles and other conservation related activities,” said Desmarita Murni, Forest, Species and Fresh Water Program Communication Coordinator at WWF-Indonesia. “Only a month after the initiative started, each team had raised more than 10,000 trees through attracting a wide fan base. The number is increasing daily.”
The winning team will be determined in September by the number of fans it attracts and its actual contribution towards forest rehabilitation. Winners get to visit the Tesso Nilo National Park and Germany’s Schaalsee Nature Park.
“We are pleased with the enthusiastic support the Forest Friends initiative is receiving,” said Desmarita. “We believe that Forest Friends is an innovative platform to engage with today’s internet-savvy youths who care about what is happening to the natural world, and want to be heard and contribute.”
Forest Friends is an integral part of WWF’s Year of the Tiger Campaign, which is aimed at doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger. The Sumatran tiger is the only tiger sub-species left in Indonesia and one of the world’s six remaining tiger sub-species. It is threatened by habitat destruction, illegal poaching and trading, as well as insufficient prey. One of the most important Sumatran tiger habitats is Tesso Nilo National Park. Camera and video traps installed by WWF-Indonesia’s Tiger Research Team have shown the existence of a wild tiger population here.
Despite harbouring several endangered species – the tiger, elephant, orang utan and rhino – and diverse forest types including carbon-rich peatlands, Sumatra has one of the world’s highest rates of natural forest loss, due to transmigration, large-scale pulp and paper and palm oil production, and other development. Between 1985 and 2007, the island lost 12 million hectares of natural forest, a 48 percent loss in 22 years. By 2007, the island had only 30 percent of its forest cover left.
WWF-Indonesia will also send two youths to the Youth Tiger Summit, where delegates from all 13 tiger range countries and countries supporting tiger conservation will gather. The summit will be held concurrently with the Heads of Government Tiger Summit in Russia later this year.
Following are profiles of the three Indonesian Forest Friends:
Rima Putri Agustina
Rima Putri Agustina, 24, is passionate about environmental issues. Her passion grew from when she joined Bumi Satu, an environmental student organization in her high school. Rima lives in the outskirts of Bandung, where the natural environment is still relatively intact. She studied at the Bandung Institute of Technology, majoring in Biology. There she joined KMPA Ganesha, another environmental organization. After her studies, she became a regular contributor to the “Greeners Magazine”, and was research assistant in Siberut Island (Sumatra). She currently works in YPBB, a NGO focusing on environmentally friendly lifestyle for urbanites. Though she is not directly working in the field like she was in Siberut, she believes her current work is just as important. “Urban consumption and lifestyle will have a direct impact on forest conversion, because more clearing will have to be made to meet more demand for forest products,” said Rima. Rima pairs up with Lena Gottschalk Follow them at: http://www.wwf-jugend.de/community/channel.php?channel_id=1
Mia Amelinda
For Mia Amelinda, 20, environmental awareness started after she took an environmental crime class in Criminology major in the Indonesian University. The subject opened her mind to the importance of natural resources such as clean water for humans. She believes that nature is created for people and therefore we have to protect it in return. The Forest Friends competition is her way for meeting fellow environmentalists. With team partner Gerrit Koechling, she shares ideas on environmental protection with all their supporters. Mia is a member of her university’s softball team and a WWF-Indonesia volunteer. Share ideas on environmental protection with Mia and Gerrit at:
http://www.wwf-jugend.de/community/channel.php?channel_id=2
Yangki Imade Suara
Yangki Imade Suara, 21, grew up with nature as his father is a farmer in Lima Puluh Kota district, West Sumatra. His bond with nature motivated him to enrol in an Environmental Economy major course at Padjajaran University. This active student was a member of the Indonesian delegation to the Harvard National Model United Nations in Boston, Bliss Point in Delhi, and the International Youth Climate Movement in Copenhagen. Climate change is a special subject for Yangki, because its impact is devastating for farmers like his father. This also motivates him to join the Forest Friends competition where he and team partner Hanna Stanke, exchange thoughts and information on how to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change and forest destruction. Join Yangki and Hanna’s discussion on environmental issues at: http://www.wwf-jugend.de/community/channel.php?channel_id=3
Wild tigers threaten local people in Riau province
Antara 12 Aug 10;
Rengat, Riau Province (ANTARA News) - Wild tigers have threatened local people living in Sungai Arang village, Indragiri Hulu district, since the past three weeks, Suhendri, a local farmer, said here on Thursday.
"Those tigers usually show up in people`s plantation or even around the housing complex in the afternoon or at night causing panic among the local residents," Suhendri said adding that he had reported this situation to the local authorities but has gotten no response so far.
Another village disturbed by the presence of wild tigers is Tanjung Sari where not only wild tigers are found but also honey bears which sometimes also enter the housing complex.
"People are now afraid to get out of their houses or have activities outside," Tohbassir, a prominent figure in the village, said.
Meanwhile, Chief of Riau province`s Conservation and Natural Resources Board Trisnu Danisworo said the two villages also hosting plantation areas owned by several companies, were located next to the Kerumutan animal preservation area for among others wild tigers and honey bears.
"The plantations` daily operational activities may disturb the wild animals in the preservation area," he said suggesting the government to review the licenses given to the companies operating in the two villages.
Previously on Monday (August 10), a rubber plantation worker, Rafi (18), was attacked and killed by a Sumatran tiger in Rokan Hilir, Riau province.
"His parents became suspicious after they found traces of blood on the ground. They followed the blood and found him knocked to the ground with a tiger next to him," Hutomo, a government official in Riau province, said.
He said the parents had managed to scare the tiger away but it was too late to save their son.
(Uu.A051/F001/P003)
