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Published on Flight of the Humpback (http://www.flightofthehumpback.org)

GlenBarry RAINFOREST VICTORY: This "hat trick" Amazon, Congo and Indonesia

By Dean Jefferys
Created 2006-03-29 15:36
raphael.jpg [1]

From: GlenBarry@EcologicalInternet.org [1] Subject: RAINFOREST VICTORY:
 Indonesia Halts Oil Palm Plans in Orangutan Habitat Date: 29 March 2006 2:52:05 AM To: shaman@byrononline.net [2] VICTORY *********************************************** FOREST CONSERVATION NEWS TODAY Indonesia Halts Oil Palm Plans in Orangutan Habitat Heart of Borneo to Be Protected *********************************************** Rainforest Portal a project of Ecological Internet, Inc. http://www.rainforestportal.org/ [3] -- Rainforest Portal http://www.rainforestportal.org/news/ [4] -- Rainforest Newsfeed http://www.rainforestportal.org/donate/ [5] -- Donate March 28, 2006 OVERVIEW & COMMENTARY by Dr. Glen Barry, Rainforest Portal Bowing to unrelenting pressure from Ecological Internet and others, the Indonesian government has abandoned plans to destroy 1.8 million hectares of rainforest by establishing an oil palm plantation in prime orangutan habitat. This is a MAJOR RAINFOREST VICTORY for which our rainforest network - and the several hundred thousand protest emails we generated - is largely responsible! Further the governments of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have announced plans to protect "the Heart of Borneo" - establishing a massive trans-boundary protected area. The initiative will preserve rather than develop for oil palm plantations one of the most important centers of biological diversity in the world, including approximately 220,000km2 of equatorial forests and numerous wildlife species. The Heart of Borneo harbors up to six percent of the world’s total biodiversity. Ecological Internet's network is on a roll! In the past month our Forests.org and Rainforest Portal projects have been instrumental in protecting millions of hectares of rainforest. Our years of advocacy have contributed substantially to massive new protected areas in the Amazon, we took the lead in successfully organizing Internet protest which has delayed the World Bank's plans to subsidize rainforest logging in the Congo, and now this marvelous Borneo rainforest conservation achievement. This "hat trick" of three victories in the Amazon, Congo and Indonesia in one month makes us the most effective rainforest conservation network in existence. We are regularly demonstrating large areas of ancient forests can be protected without kowtowing to and permitting industrial logging. After much hard work and warranted despair, let us rejoice and be happy. Never, ever doubt that a small group of highly connected people with good hearts and strategic, accurate information can make giant strides towards global ecological sustainability. Together we are doing it all the time! g.b. To Comment on this Article: http://www.rainforestportal.org/issues/2006/03/indonesia_halts_oil_palm_... [6] ******************************* RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE: 
Title: Heart of Borneo: Conservation vision gives hope to treasure island Source: Copyright 2006, WWF Date: March 28, 2006 The “Heart of Borneo” conservation initiative was officially launched today with the three Bornean governments – Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia – declaring their commitment to support it. The tri-country initiative aims to preserve one of the most important centres of biological diversity in the world, including approximately 220,000km2 of equatorial forests and numerous wildlife species. “Today’s announcement by the three governments shows vision and leadership,” said James Leape, WWF International’s Director General. “Three countries sharing one conservation vision gives hope to one of the most important areas for biodiversity in the world.” A recent WWF report highlighted that 361 new species have been discovered in the last ten years. “The Heart of Borneo harbours up to six per cent of the world’s total biodiversity and is the source of 14 of the island’s 20 major rivers,” added Arman Mallolongan, Director General, Forest Protection and Nature Conservation, Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. “Conserving the Heart of Borneo will not only save hundreds or even thousands of species, but also provide water security, food security and cultural survival for the people of Borneo.” “This is an historic event, as the Heart of Borneo initiative will pave the way towards expanding conservation of biodiversity, which fully supports the goal of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity,” said Dato Suboh, Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment. “This initiative also represents a very significant milestone for transboundary cooperation and will enhance existing collaboration between our respective countries to protect vital natural resources and reduce poverty.” Today, only half of Borneo's forest cover remains, down from 75 per cent in the mid 1980s. According to WWF, all lowland rainforests in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, would disappear by 2010, if the current deforestation rate of 1.3 million hectares per year continues. That’s an area equivalent to about one-third the size of Switzerland. Forest fires, the conversion of forests to plantations, and logging are also driving the destruction of Borneo's forests. Nevertheless, there is reason for optimism, WWF says. Healthy forests cover much of highlands and adjacent foothills along the borders of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, connecting in places with rich, lowland forests to form a corridor of life – the Heart of Borneo. In addition, the three Bornean governments recently announced new conservation measures within the Heart of Borneo. Malaysia declared it will protect more than 200,000ha of key forest habitat in Sabah for the protection of orang-utans, elephants and rhinos. Brunei has established two conservation areas. And Indonesia has proposed a new national park of 800,000ha. According to WWF, today’s announcement also spells the end of plans to create the world’s largest palm oil plantation in Kalimantan along Indonesia’s mountainous border with Malaysia. The scheme – supported with Chinese investments – was expected to cover an area of 1.8 million hectares and would have had long- lasting, damaging consequences on the Heart of Borneo. WWF repeatedly said new oil palm plantations should be established on degraded, non-forested land. “WWF considers the Heart of Borneo to be one of its top global priorities,” added Leape. “It is hugely important to maintain a large enough area of Borneo’s forests for the survival of the natural ecosystems. This is critical for sustainable development, and WWF stands ready to assist Borneo’s three governments with technical and financial support, so that we can make the conservation vision a reality.” Brunei’s government representative, Mahmud Yussof, said he hoped a tri-country declaration for the Heart of Borneo could be signed at the 14th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, next May in New York. For further information: Olivier van Bogaert, Senior Press Officer WWF International Tel: +41 79 477 35 72 --- You are subscribed to ecological_internet as shaman@byrononline.net [7]. Before unsubscribing, please consider modifying your list profile at: http://www.ecoearth.info/subscribe/welcome.asp?email=shaman@byrononline.... [8] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to leave-ecological_internet-23424S@ecoearth.info [9] Or click here: http://ecoearth.info:81/u?id=23424S&n=T&c=F&l=ecological_internet [10] To subscribe, send a blank email to join-ecological_internet@ecoearth.info [11] Or visit here: http://www.ecoearth.info/subscribe/ [12]

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