Investigated When Tripa Almost Perish | TEMPO Magazine
this article was originally published in TEMPO Magazine on July 22, 2012
Free Translation by Adji Darsoyo
Within the past two decades, the total area of Tripa Peat Swamp has lost almost 42 thousands of hectares. Allegation of legal violation was only investigated just before the peatlands and its contents were almost perished.
Early 1990
Primary forest has still been covering the 62 thousand hectares of Tripa Peat Swamp. There were approx.. 1,000 orangutan in the area.
1990-1996
The Government issued land concessions for 5 companies to operate plantation in Tripa Peat Swamp. One of them is PT Kallista Alam. The total of land concession issued covers 35 thousand hectares.
2001-2004
Increasing conflict in Aceh. A number of companies ceased their operations.
2005
Post tsunami and after Helsinki peace agreement was signed, the companies started operating.
5 Febuari 2008
PT Kallista Alam submitted an application to an area extension of 1,605 ha.
2008-2009
WALHI Indonesia noted that other companies have extended their plantation area up to 8,000 ha.
2010
PT Kallista drained and cleared the peatland. MODIS Satellite’s record show that from 591 detected hotspots, 203 are within the area of PT Kallista.
2011
20 Mei
Presidential Instruction No. 10/2011 on the Moratorium on New Permit in Primary Forest and Peatlands was issued.
25 August
The Governor of Aceh, Irwandi Yusuf, issued a plantation permit for PT Kallista.
23 November
WALHI Aceh filed a lawsuit against the Governor of Aceh at the Administrative Court.
2012
April
- The Administrative Court of Banda Aceh rejected the lawsuit of WALHI
- Irwandi Yusuf was succeeded by Zaini Abdullah, who won the election for Aceh Governor
Beginning of May
Joint investigators started investigating the allegation of legal violation in Tripa Peat Swamp. Now, only 17 thousand hectare remain in Tripa Peat Swamp, with only 250 orangutans left.
2015-2016
Without rescue, the peatland and the orangutans in Tripa Peat Swamp are predicted to vanish.
