A European campaign
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The rapid expansion market of paper products linked to deforestation in Indonesia into the European is supporting the further expansion of pulp plantations into Indonesia’s last tropical forests and peatlands. EEPN is promoting a European-wide campaign to stop the expansion of such products into the European market and to protect Indonesia’s rainforests and forest communities rights. Read more... |
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World leader in deforestation
Indonesia’s archipelago contains a great portion of the world’s plant and animal species – including 10 percent of the world’s flowering plant species, 12 percent of all mammal species, 15 percent of all reptiles and amphibian species, and 17 percent of all bird species.[1] This diversity includes some of the world’s most endangered species including orang-utans, Sumatran tigers, Sumatran rhinoceroses and Asian elephants, and more than 1,500 species of birds and thousands of plant species are all a part of the natural wonder of Indonesia. Scientific expeditions in parts of Indonesia regularly uncover animals never before seen.
APP produces mainly in Indonesia and China.[2] The bulk of APP’s pulp production in Indonesia is based in Riau and Jambi Province in central Sumatra,[3] one of the last refuges for the critically endangered Sumatran elephant and Sumatran tiger.[4] Jambi also is a home to the only successful reintroduction program for Sumatran orang-utans that are now threatened by APP expansion.[5]
- Deforestation in Riau has been driving the Sumatran tiger to extinction.
- In 2007, Sumatran elephant and tiger populations in Riau have declined to as few as 210 and 192 individuals. If forest clearing isn’t halted, both may become locally extinct in a few years’ time.[6]
- Orang-utans are unique to the forests of Sumatra and Borneo. At the end of 2002, it was estimated only 3,500 Sumatran orang-utans remained and these are in protected areas too small for their long-term survival. APP is threatening crucial habitat for re introduced Sumatran orang-utans such in Bukit Tigapuluh.
Since it began operations in 1984, APP is estimated to have pulped more than 2 million hectars of natural forests in Riau and Jambi provinces in Sumatra alone.[7] Sinar Mas affiliated APP wood suppliers have been clear-cutting seven out of the existing eight natural forest landscapes in Sumatra: Senepis, Giam Siak Kecil, Kampar, Kerumutan, Bukit Tigapuluh, Tesso Nilo and Libo.
- Senepis, Giam Siak Kecil, Kampar and Kerumutan are critically endangered endangered peat swamp forest blocks with fresh water swamp that are being devastated by Sinar Mas affiliated APP wood suppliers by peat soil drainage and natural forest clearance.[8] These blocks are together one of the denses concentrations of soil carbon in the world. They are the habitat of Sumatran tigers and contain the CITES protected ramin and other endangered fauna and flora. In 2011, APP continued to source MTH from Senepis, Kerumutan and Kampar.
- Bukit Tigapuluh includes a critically endangered dry lowland forest type which has lost around 80% of its original cover on the island since 1985.[9] International scientists consider it one of the world’s top 20 landscapes essential for the survival of the tiger,[10] and the Government of Indonesia considers it a top tiger conservation priority.[11] The forests are the habitat of two of the largest remaining herds of the Sumatran elephant and of the only successfully reintroduced population of the Sumatran orang-utan. Sinar Mas affiliated APP wood suppliers have been systematically targeting the good natural forests of this area for pulp production.[12] Huge encroachment was caused by massive logging highway build by APP associated companies cut through the landscapes’ standing forests.
- Tesso Nilo is the largest remaining block of a critically endangered dry lowland forest type, which lost more than 90% of its original coverage on the island since 1985[13]. It has one of the world’s highest levels of vascular plant diversity[14] and is home to Sumatra’s endangered tigers and elephants as well as many other species[15]. APP associated companies have been sourcing tropical timber from its own concession and third parties, including illegal loggers (in 2003[16]), operating in this area. Despite the highly threatened status of this natural forest and its wildlife, APP associated wood suppliers are continuing to clear even the last available natural forest in their Tesso Nilo concessions, threatening their critically endangered resident tigers.[17]
- Libo includes a critically endangered fresh water swamp and endangered peat swamp forest, now highly fragmented due to rampant natural forest clearance by APP, APRIL and oil palm plantation developers. It is the habitat of Sumatran tigers and elephants, both highly threatened by human-wildlife conflicts[18].
APP claims to plant every day one million trees, mainly on land that once was covered by natural rainforests. Unfortunately, large-scale monoculture tree plantations are not forests. Every year rich biodiverse forests, often high conservation value forests, conservation hotspots and precious peat-lands are converted into pulp plantations by APP and Sinar Mas associated companies.[19]
[1] Bappenas, Pollack, Todd / Green Press Initiative, Indonesia Under Pressure: Understanding the Social and Environmental Impacts of Printing in Asia., 1993, http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2008/WWFPresitem7596.html
[3] APP Environmental and Social Sustainability Report for Indonesia 2005-2006, http://www.asiapulppaper.com/portal/APP_Portal.nsf/WebMenuPage/1B2BBDDE7FB9B64C4725739B00232E6A/$FILE/SR1.PDF
[4] Uryu et al., Deforestation, Forest Degradation, Biodiversity Loss and CO2 Emissions in Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia. WWF Indonesia Technical Report, 2008, Jakarta, Indonesia. see: http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2008/WWFPresitem7596.html).
[5] Frankfurt Zoological Society/ KKI WARSI/ Zoological Society of London/WWF-Indonesia/Yayasan PKHS, 19 May 2009, comunicato stampa congiunto, Asia Pulp & Paper/Sinar Mas Group Sert to Destroy
Orangutan Reintroduction Site, Critical Tiger Forest, see: http://www.savesumatra.org/index.php/newspublications/pressdetail/8
[6] WWF USA Update: Sumatra’s Forests Disappearing, Bad News for Climate Change, Tigers and Elephants, 26 February 2008, see: http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2008/WWFPresitem7596.html See also Uryu et al., Deforestation, Forest Degradation, Biodiversity Loss and CO2 Emissions in Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia, WWF Indonesia Technical Report, Jakarta, Indonesia, 2008, see: http://www.worldwildlife.org/who/media/press/2008/WWFPresitem7596.html
[7] Eyes on the Forest, Investigative report, The truth behind APP’s greenwash, December 2011, http://eyesontheforest.or.id/attach/EoF%20(14Dec11)%20The%20truth%20behind%20APPs%20greenwash%20HR.pdf
[8] There are many studies released by the Indonesian NGOs coalition Eyes on the Forest, reporting about the impact of APP fiber suppliers on these habitats:
Eyes on the Forest, EoF calls on SMG/APP and APRIL to keep their promises: Stop conversion of natural forest and drainage of peat to produce pulp, stop violation of the country’s climate commitments, 30 November 2010, http://eyesontheforest.or.id/attach/EoF%20%2830Nov10%29%20Riau%20RKT%202010%20natural% 20forest%20and%20peat%20conversion%20EN%20FINAL.pdf
Eyes on the Forest, Investigative Report: Business as Usual in Riau, Sumatra: Pulp Industry Continues Clearance of Natural Forest, 8 July 2010, http://eyesontheforest.or.id/attach/EoF_Report_July2010_pulp_industry_continues_clearance%20B.pdf
Eyes on the Forest, Investigative Report December 2009. Two Asia Pulp & Paper / Sinar Mas Group associated companies continue clearcutting of deep peatland forest of Kerumutan in Riau Province, Sumatra, threatening peatland forest ecosystems, Sumatra tiger and global climate, April 2010, http://eyesontheforest.or.id/attach/EoF_Investigative_Report_April2010_APP_Kerumutan.pdf
Eyes on the Forest, Fires in APP/Sinar Mas Concessions Add to Region’s Haze Woes, Threaten New UN Biosphere Reserve, 27 July 2009, http://eyesontheforest.or.id/attach/EoF_PR_Fire_hotspot_final_27_July_2009.pdf
Eyes on the Forest, Eyes on the Forest to Asia Pulp & Paper: Cease all destruction of one of the world’s largest tropical peatland forests – Kampar peninsula in Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia, 26 March 2008, http://eyesontheforest.or.id/attach/Investigative%20Report%20english%20version%20march%20200 8.pdf
[9] Y. Laumonier, Y. Uryu, M. Stwe, A. Budiman, B. Setiabudi, and O.Hadian, Eco-floristic sectors and deforestation threats in Sumatra: indentifying new conservation area network priorities for ecosystem-based land use planning. Biodiversity Conservation 2010 19: 1153-1174. http://www.springerlink.com/content/c77376k574051178/fulltext.pdf
[10] E. Sanderson, J. Forrest, C. Loucks, J. Ginsberg, E. Dinerstein, J. Seidensticker, P. Leimgruber, M. Songer, A. Heydlauff, T. O’Brien, G. Bryja, S. Klenzendorf, and E. Wikramanayake. Setting Priorities for the Conservation and Recovery of Wild Tigers: 2005-2015. WCS, WWF, Smithsonian, and NFWF-STF, 2006
[11] The Jakarta Globe, Indonesia Joins World Forum Vowing to Save Tigers, 24 November 2010, http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/nvironment/indonesia-joins-world-forum-vowing-to-save-tigers/408341
[12] There are several documents and appeals to protect areas targeted by APP wood suppliers. See for example:
KKI Warsi, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Zoological Society of London, PKHS and WWF Indonesia, Joint Press Release: APP Forest Clearing Threatens Lives of Local Communities and Endangered Species, 8 January 2008, http://www.wwf.or.id/en/news_facts/press_release/?2642/Forest-Clearing-In-Bukit-Tigapuluh-Threatens- Lives-Of-Local-Communities-And-Endangered-Species
KKI Warsi, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Zoological Society of London, PKHS and WWF Indonesia, Joint Report: Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Threatens Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape, 8 January 2008 http://rafflesia.wwf.or.id/library/attachment/pdf/BTp_Investigation_Jan%202008_draft_FINAL.pdf
KKI Warsi, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Eyes on the Forest and WWF Indonesia, Press Release: Once-Untouched Haven for Tigers, Orangutans, Elephants Being Systematically Targeted by APP/SMG. Sumatran Forest is Last Home of the Indigenous Orang Rimba and Talang Mamak, 14 December 2010, http://www.wwf.or.id/en/news_facts/press_release/?21160/Once-Untouched-Haven-for-Tigers-Orangutan s-Elephants-Being-Systematically-Targeted-by-APPSMG
KKI Warsi, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Eyes on the Forest and WWF-Indonesia, Report: Last Chance to Save Bukit Tigapuluh. Sumatran tigers, elephants, orangutans and indigenous tribes face local extinction, along with forest, 14 December 2010, http://www.wwf.or.id/btp_report_dec10_pdf
WWF and Google Earth, Video: Saving Bukit Tigapuluh, 9 May 2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsg6N9p0Vy0 63
[14] A.N. Gillison, Vegetation Survey and Habitat Assessment of the Tesso Nilo Forest Complex. Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Sumatra, Indonesia (27 October – 10 November 2001). WWF Technical Report, WWF, Washington, DC, USA 2001
[15] D.M. Prawiradilaga et al., Survey Report on Biodiversity of Tesso Nilo. May – August 2003. Indonesian Research Centre for Biology-LIPI & WWF Indonesia, 2003
[16] WWF Indonesia, Monitoring of Illegal Logging Operations in Riau, Sumatra. Deliveries of Illegally Cut Wood from Proposed Tesso Nilo National Park to APP’s Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper Mill in August 2003 and April 2004, 16 June 2004, http://www.wwf.or.id/attachments/Monitoring_of_Illegal_Logging.pdf
[17] Greenpeace, Endangered Sumatran tiger dies in trap on APP concession in Indonesia, 25 July 2011, http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/endangered-sumatran-tiger-dies-i n-trap-on-app/blog/35859/
[18] There are some useful documents on the impact of habitat loss on human-wildlife conflicts:
Eyes on the Forest, Interactive, Mapon, Elephant, Distribution, and, Conflict in Riau, Sumatra, 4 April 2006
WWF Indonesia, Riau’s Elephants: The 2006 Tragedy, 2006, http://www.wwf.or.id/en/about_wwf/whatwedo/forest_species/where_we_work/tessonilobukittigapuluh/f ocal_species/elephants/elephant_tragedy/
Eyes on the Forest, Forests to Paper, Forests to Palm Oil and No Place to Live for Riau’s Elephants, 18 April 2006, http://www.wwf.or.jp/activities/upfiles/EoFElephant18Apr06_.pdf
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