INDONESIA TAKES ACTION TO SAVE FORESTS AND ORANGUTANS

[Guest guest]

http://www.enn.com/direct/display-release.asp?id=4132

 

From Environmental Investigation Agency

Thursday, April 19, 2001

 

WASHINGTON, DC - INDONESIA TAKES ACTION TO SAVE FORESTS AND ORANGUTANS

 

Washington DC, 18th April 2001: The Environmental Investigation Agency,

(EIA) an independent, non profit environmental group and Telapak Indonesia

announced

today that the Indonesian Minister of Forests has banned the domestic and

international sale of a valuable tree species - ramin - to help protect

vital orangutan habitat in the world famous Tanjung Puting National Park .

From 1995-1998, the United States was the world's second largest importer of

Indonesian ramin, importing 71 million kilograms worth US$68 million.

 

EIA and Telapak Indonesia have produced a series of investigative reports

which identified ramin as a key species being taken from the Park. Tanjung

Puting Park has been invaded by illegal loggers in recent years, backed by a

powerful timber baron, Abdul Rasyid who has proven to be untouchable due to

his links with corrupt military and political figures.

 

" The ban on the sale of ramin is cautiously welcomed by EIA and Telapak, "

said

Allan Thornton, President of the Washington, DC office of EIA. " If properly

implemented, it will be a first and important step towards stopping the

destruction of Tanjung Puting National Park and protecting the critically

endangered orangutans. "

 

Orangutan numbers have plummeted across their range in Indonesia and

Malaysia

largely due to destruction of their habitat. Orangutans favor the lowland

regions of the islands of Borneo and Sumatra where illegal logging has

spiraled out of control. In Tanjung Puting National Park where about 500

orangutans survive, massive commercial illegal logging has destroyed huge

areas of the Park.

 

Ramin is a hardwood found only in Indonesia and Malaysia. It is used for

fine

furniture, moldings, cue sticks, futon beds, picture frames, window blinds

and other high value products. It is sold on the international market for up

to US$1,000 per cubic meter making it one of the most valuable hardwood

species. It is found in swamp forests which are rapidly disappearing and are

home to many rare and endangered species.

 

The Indonesian Government has placed ramin on Appendix 3 of the Convention

on

International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) with a zero quota. From

mid-

July, countries that are members of CITES will not be legally allowed to

import Indonesian ramin.

 

EIA and Telapak Indonesia are appealing to enforcement authorities in the

US,

Europe and Japan to give priority to stopping imports of ramin when the ban

comes into effect in mid-July.

 

Contact: Allan Thornton, (202) 483-6621

eiagency

 

For more information, contact:

Allan Thornton

President

Environmental Investigation Agency

(202)483-6621

eiauk

Web site: http://www.ecocrimes.org