Indonesia: Sumatran tiger population now only 400 - Greenpeace

Antara 30 Sep 11;

Pekanbaru (ANTARA News) - The tiger population in the wild in Sumatra is believed to have dwindled to only 400 heads due to illegal logging in industrial forest areas, a Greenpeace activist said.

"We from Greenpeace urges all industrial forest companies, especially those operating in Riau Province, to stop their illegal logging activity for the sake of our grand children in the future," Rusmadya, a Greenpeace forest campaign coordinator , said here on Thursday.

Because their habitats have been destroyed, the wild animals often enter villages and come into conflict with villagers, he said.

He also urged the central government to seriously deal with the problem in order to preserve the endangered animal.

"We should remember that forests is are a sacred place according to our ancestors. If we destroy forests, it means we also destroy the traditions and beliefs of our ancestors," he said.

The Indonesian government estimates that more than one million hectares of forest are being cleared every year. At the rate forests are being destroyed today , the Sumatran tiger that has inspired Indonesia`s rich culture is likely to follow its Javanese and Balinese cousins into extinction soon.

In July, several Greenpeace activists accompanied the Center for Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA) Riau to this area in order to rescue a trapped Sumatran tiger. Unfortunately, the rescue effort failed to save the tiger`s life as it had been trapped for seven days and was too weak to survive the rescue attempt.(*)

Editor: Heru

Greenpeace calls for protection of sumatran forest to save tigers
Antara 1 Oct 11;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - On the eighth day of the Greenpeace "Tiger Eyes" tour, five Greenpeace activists arrived in the area around the village of Kusuma, District Pangkalan Kuras, Pelalawan regency of Riau Province, to see the condition of the forest which has become one of the Sumatran Tigers last remaining habitats.

"In this area, Greenpeace activists were bearing witness to the forests around Tesso Nilo being converted to acacia plantation by PT. Arara Abadi (a subsidiary of Asia Pulp and Paper-APP)," Greenpeace Southeast Asia said in a press statement here on Friday.

In July, several Greenpeace activists accompanied the Center for Conservation of Natural Resources (BKSDA) Riau to this area in order to rescue a trapped Sumatran Tiger. Unfortunately the rescue effort failed to save the tiger`s life as it had been trapped for seven days and was too weak to survive the rescue attempt.

Greenpeace activists were shocked because in this area, the carbon-rich peatlands, more than three meters deep were destroyed. In addition to documenting these conditions, the activists unfurled banners reading "Save the Forests, Save the Tiger Home" encouraging all Indonesian people to participate in efforts to save Indonesia`s remaining forests.

"Today we are in one of the last remaining forests which is the home of the endangered Sumatran tiger. We saw that destruction is still freely occurring, even on carbon-rich peat lands. Yesterday President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his commitment to save Indonesia`s remaining forests. This commitment needs to materialize into concrete action so that destruction of this kind is immediately halted, " said Rusmadya Maharuddin, Greenpeace Southeast Asia forest campaigner said last Wednesday (Sept 28).

"We must fight to save Indonesia`s remaining forests. We`re presenting evidence of this destruction, and inviting all Indonesians to join us and be the `eyes of a tiger`. The companies responsible must stop their destructive practices and shift to more responsible operations, while the Government must review all existing concessions and protect peatland immediately," Rusmadya added.

The Sumatran tiger`s forest habitat is being destroyed, with only around 400 left in the wild. The Indonesian government estimates that more than one million hectares of forest are being cleared every year. With the current rates of forest destruction, this magnificent animal that has inspired Indonesia`s rich culture, is likely to follow its predecessors, the Javanese and Bali tiger, into extinction. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli

Government idle on Sumatran tigers’ welfare: NGO
The Jakarta Post 8 Oct 11;

JAKARTA: Noted international environmental organization Greenpeace has expressed its concerns regarding the Indonesian government’s stance toward massive forest clearing, which is destroying the habitat of the endangered Sumatran tiger.

“The government should do something to protect and preserve the natural forests, the home of these animals, which are located within production forests in Riau and Jambi,” Greenpeace campaigner Rusmadia Maharudin said Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

He added that Greenpeace and other environmental NGOs had followed the trails of these Sumatran tigers and found evidence that they had suffered most from large-scale forest clearing in these areas.

According to estimates, there are now fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild.

Greenpeace records show that at least 30 percent of the 80 million hectares of forested land in this area is beyond help because of forest-clearing activities.

Sinar Mas spokesman Kurniawan said the activists’ assessment of the forests was exaggerated. He added that the pulp and paper industry used less wood from natural forests, instead relying on its industrial forests to fulfill production needs.

“At present, only 8 percent of our demand for wood comes from natural forests. The rest is sourced from industrial forests,” he said.