Kalimantan Palm Plantations Threaten Last Pygmy Elephants

Jakarta Globe 18 Apr 12;

With no more than 80 Borneo pygmy elephants left in Indonesia, the massive clearing of forests to make way for palm oil plantations poses a major threat to the survival of the species, environmentalists warn.

In a statement released on Wednesday, WWF Indonesia said a four-year- survey that concluded last year showed there were only 20 to 80 of the elephants left, all in northern East Kalimantan on the border with Malaysia’s Sabah state.

The group warned that the expanding plantations were driving the elephants out of their natural habitat and forcing them into more frequent conflict with villagers in Nunukan district.

Agus Suyitno, WWF’s human-elephant conflict mitigation official in Nunukan, said the group was addressing the problem by setting up a task force involving local residents and wildlife officials.

“WWF Indonesia calls on the government and the private sector to provide operational support for these task force members so that the conflicts won’t escalate,” he said.

Anwar Purwoto, WWF’s forestry, species and freshwater program director, said forestry and conservation did not have to be mutually exclusive. He cited the case of logger Adimitra Lestari, whose concession covers the pygmy elephant’s last major stronghold.

He said WWF had worked with the company over the past two years to practice sound forestry management by only logging in areas the elephants did not visit and leaving the trees that they fed on untouched.

“This,” he said, “showcases the real implementation of the green economy, in which business operates without harming endangered species populations.” 

Investor Daily