Posted by Jamie in Climate Change, Endangered Animals | 2 Comments
APP’s forest clearing linked to 12 years of human, tiger deaths in Sumatra
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In Indonesia, a leading paper company who owns a pulpwood plantation, took the blame for 12 years of human and tiger deaths in Sumatra.
According to research and analysis done by Eyes on the Forest, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), a company under the management of Sinar Mas Group, and other affiliated companies, are responsible for these deaths.
A study made by the entity Eyes on the Forest revealed that since 1997, a total of 15 Sumatran tigers (Panthera Tigris Sumatrae) and 55 people were killed during encounters in the Province of Riau. There were also 17 tigers captured and taken away from the forest.
Sumatra is one of the most diverse forests in the world. However, since 1985, half of the forest has been lost. According to Ian Kosasih of WWF-Indonesia, so much of the forest is gone and the tigers have nowhere to go. Only 400 or so Sumatran tigers are estimated to remain in their natural habitats. Every tiger that is killed marks a significant loss to their population.
Studies and reports conducted by Eyes on the Forest showed that there is a direct correlation between tiger conflict and unsustainable forest practices of the notorious paper giant.
Since APP started operating in the 1980s, it has been estimated to have destroyed more than a million hectares of natural woodland in Jambi and Riau provinces in Sumatra. This natural forest is the only home for the Sumatran Tiger.
In the Senepis area, 60% of conflicts in Riau resulted to 27 human deaths (49%) and eight tiger deaths (53%). The paper company has expanded its natural forest clearance operations in five concessions since the year 1999.
Eyes on the Forest is a coalition of 25 environmental organizations in Riau, Sumatra Indonesia including WWF-Indonesia, Jikalahari(Forest Rescue Network Riau), Walhi Riau (Friends of the Earth Indonesia) and other NGOs. It started in December 2004 and aims to investigate forest conflicts and crimes in the central Sumatran Province.
Back in 2007, Riau and the Indonesian police investigated 14 companies deemed responsible for the illegal logging case. Eventually, police operations stopped in December 2008 but officials still continued probing APP.
In February, the National Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) along with House of Representatives’ Law Commission gave assurance that they will resume the cases of all 13 companies responsible for the human-tiger conflict.
Aside from being the home of Sumatran tigers, the forests in Riau are important for it is also a main source of carbon. Its peat soil is so carbon-rich that cutting trees in the region may release carbon emissions that will effect climate change.
More information on Sumatran tigers:
- Tiger Facts about the Sumatran Tiger
- The Sumatran Tiger Trust is dedicated to saving the endangered Sumatran tiger.
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