Update petisi: DUKUNGAN MENDESAK DIPERLUKAN UNTUK PENYELAMATAN ORANGUTAN DI KAWASAN EKOSISTEM LEUSER!
DUKUNGAN MENDESAK DIPERLUKAN UNTUK PENYELAMATAN ORANGUTAN DI KAWASAN EKOSISTEM LEUSER!
Dear Teman – teman pelindung hutan Aceh,
Saya menulis untuk berterima kasih atas bantuan Anda dalam kampanye penjagaan Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser dan meminta anda untuk mendukung petisi kami yang baru dan mendesak. Tolong tanda tangani dan sebarkan hari ini!
Tahun lalu Anda telah menciptakan gelombang protes publik terhadap pengrusakan hutan rawa gambut Tripa di Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser. Pada saat yang sama Indonesia dibanjiri dengan pesan positif dari para pendukung, ilmuwan dan ekonom di seluruh dunia bahwa Ekosistem Leuser layak pengakuan penuh sebagai Kasawan Warisan Dunia UNESCO Site (1) .
Berkat dukungan Anda, akhirnya kemenangan besar dapat dicapai. Pada bulan Januari, ketika salah satu perusahaan kelapa sawit illegal yang membakar hutan di Tripa dituntut dan didenda sampai dengan lebih dari US $ 30 juta. Ini adalah keputusan bersejarah di Indonesia dan menetapkan preseden penting bagi masa depan penegakan hukum untuk melindungi hutan-hutan di Indonesia (2).
Sayangnya preseden ini mungkin perlu diuji dalam waktu dekat. Parlemen Aceh baru – baru ini mengesahkan rencana tata ruang Aceh, yang sepenuhnya mengabaikan status perlindungan Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser, melanggar peraturan yang lebih tinggi dan membuka pintu untuk perkebunan kelapa sawit, pembalakan, pertambangan dan pembangunan jalan di dalam Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser. Jika pemerintah pusat Indonesia tidak menganulir rencana tata ruang ilegal ini maka kita akan menghadapi pertempuran di ranah hukum tidak hanya untuk hutan rawa gambut Tripa tetapi untuk seluruh 2,2 juta hektar Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser yang terletak di Aceh .
Jika Presiden SBY membiarkan rencana tata ruang ini disahkan begitu saja, hutan Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser yang megah dan kaya akan hancur dalam waktu singkat.
Tapi ada kesempatan untuk membalikkan keadaan sebelum kehancuran Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser semakin parah.
Kementrian dalam negeri Indonesia telah mengajukan evaluasi perda/qanun yang kuat dan menyeluruh, meminta pemerintahan Aceh untuk merevisi perda tata ruang dan memasukkan perlindungan Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser, sesuai amanah undang – undang. Di saat yang bersamaan, sekarang juga waktu pemilihan umum di Indonesia; Presiden SBY akan lebih memilih untuk meninggalkan warisan perlindungan lingkungan dan pembangunan berkelanjutan daripada dikenang sebagai presiden yang mengizinkan penghancuran hutan hujan tropis paling signifikan yang tersisa di Asia Tenggara.
Kami baru saja mendapat kabar bahwa Parlemen Aceh mengabaikan permintaan pemerintah pusat untuk merevisi perda tata ruang dan memilih untuk melanjutkan rencana konversi hutan besar-besaran. Oleh karena itu Presiden SBY harus segera membatalkan perda ini demi hukum, atau kita menghadapi ancaman kepunahan orangutan Sumatran, badak, gajah dan harimau selama-lamanya.
Jika cukup dari kita menunjukkan dukungan untuk membatalkan perda tata ruang Aceh yang ilegal secara hokum ini, perda tersebut tidak bisa disahkan begitu saja secara diam-diam.
Kami telah memiliki umpan balik positif pada petisi dari para pemangku kepentingan dan itu adalah bagian dari strategi yang lebih luas , tetapi untuk memastikan kita dapat mencapai tujuan kami untuk melindungi dan mengembalikan Ekosistem Leuser , kita benar-benar membutuhkan kemarahan global. Silakan masuk dan berbagi link secara luas . Saya terima kasih sebelumnya .
1 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/12/27/your-letters-open-letter-aceh-governor.html
2 http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0109-aceh-tripa-court-decision.html
BAGAIMANA ANDA BISA MEMBANTU :
1. Sebarkan permohonan ini melalui setiap jaringan media sosial yang Anda miliki : http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/president-susilo-bambang-yudhoyono-cancel-aceh-s-illegal-spatial-plan
2. Tweet berita ini (tag Presiden Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono dan Menteri Dalam Negeri di Indonesia, Mr Gamawan Fauzi) dengan tag masing-masing : @presidenSBY , @GamawanFauzi
Beberapa tweet yang dapat digunakan :
Selamatkan tempat terakhir di bumi untuk orangutan Sumatera , badak , gajah dan harimau http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY & @GamawanFauzi
Indonesia harus mengambil keputusan yang bijaksana terhadap Qanun RTRW Aceh http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY & @GamawanFauzi
Mendorong Pemerintah Indonesia untuk membatalkan rencana tata ruang Aceh dan melindungi Leuser Ecosytem http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY & @GamawanFauzi
Qanun RTRW Aceh melanggar peraturan Nasional. Menyerukan Pemerintah Pusat untuk melindungi Leuser ! http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @SBYudhoyono & @GamawanFauzi
Peraturan telah diabaikan dan suara publik dilupakan. @presidenSBY & @GamawanFauzi tolong batalkan Qanun RTRW Aceh http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb
Selamatkan masyarakat Aceh dari banjir bandang. @ presidenSBY & @GamawanFauzi dapat membatalkan rencana tata ruang http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb
Batalkan Qanun RTRW Aceh atau orangutan sumatera & badak akan mengalami kepunahan http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY & @GamawanFauzi
Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser melindungi masyarakat dari banjir yang mematikan. SBY, batalkan Qanun RTRW Aceh http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @ presidenSBY , @ GamawanFauzi
Terima kasih yang tulus dan tak terhingga untuk semua dukungan Anda dalam mendorong perlindungan Kawasan Ekosistem Leuser #TheLastPlaceOnEarth
Petition updates: URGENT SUPPORT NEEDED TO SAVE THE ORANGUTANS OF THE LEUSER ECOSYSTEM!
Dear Friends of Aceh’s Forests,
I’m writing to thank you for your continued help in safeguarding the Leuser Ecosystem and to ask you to support our new urgent petition. Please sign and share today!
Last year you helped create a wave of public protest against the destruction of the Tripa peat swamp forests in the Leuser Ecosystem. At the same time Indonesia was inundated with the positive message from supporters, scientists and economists all around the world that the Leuser Ecosystem deserves full recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site (1).
Thanks to your continued support, we finally saw a major win in January when one of the palm oil companies illegally burning Tripa was prosecuted and received fines and reparation costs of over US$30 million. This was a historic ruling in Indonesia and sets a crucial precedent for future legal battles to protect Indonesia’s forests (2).
Unfortunately this precedent may need to be relied upon sooner rather than later. The Aceh Parliament recently passed a spatial plan by-law that entirely ignores the protected status of the entire Leuser Ecosystem in order to open it up for palm oil, logging, mining and roads. If Indonesia’s central government does not cancel this illegal spatial plan then we will be facing a legal battle not only for Tripa peat swamp forests but for the entire 2.2 million hectares of the Leuser Ecosystem that lies within Aceh.
If President SBY allows this spatial plan by-law to go through, the vast magnificent forests of the Leuser Ecosystem will be destroyed.
But there is a chance to turn things around before the fires are lit in the Leuser Ecosystem.
The Indonesian Ministry of Domestic affairs has submitted a strong evaluation of the by-law and asked Aceh to revise it so that it protects the Leuser Ecosystem. Now is also election time in Indonesia, and the current Indonesian president would prefer to leave a legacy of progress in environmental protection and sustainable development than to be remembered as the president who allowed the destruction of the most significant tropical rainforest remnant in Southeast Asia.
We’ve just learnt that the Aceh Parliament plans to ignore the central government’s request for revisions and go ahead with the forest conversion. Therefore President SBY must cancel the by-law now otherwise we face the very real threat of losing Sumatran orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers for good.
If enough of us show our support for the cancellation of this illegal Aceh by-law, it cannot be allowed to just pass quietly through.
We have already had positive feedback on the petition from stakeholders and it is part of a much broader strategy, but to ensure we can achieve our goal to protect and restore the Leuser Ecosystem, we really need a global outrage. Please sign and share the link widely. I thank you in advance.
1 http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/12/27/your-letters-open-letter-aceh-governor.html
2 http://news.mongabay.com/2014/0109-aceh-tripa-court-decision.html
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Share the petition through every social media network you have: http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/president-susilo-bambang-yudhoyono-cancel-aceh-s-illegal-spatial-plan
2. Tweet this news (tag Indonesia’s President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Indonesia’s Domestic Affairs Minister (Mr Gamawan Fauzi) with the respective tags: @presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
Some suggested tweets:
Save the last place on Earth for Sumatran orangutans, rhinos, elephants and tigers http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
Indonesia pls stand by wise decision on spatial plan for the sake of Aceh’s forest http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
Encourage the Indonesian Govt to cancel Aceh’s spatial plan and protect the Leuser Ecosytem http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb@presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
The spatial plan violates National Law. Call on Jakarta Central Govt to protect Leuser! http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @SBYudhoyono, @GamawanFauzi
The law has been broken and Aceh’s people ignored. SBY please reject Aceh’s spatial plan http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb@presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
Save Aceh communities from flashfloods. The Jakarta Govt can stop the spatial plan http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
Cancel the Aceh spatial plan or Sumatran orangutans & rhinos will risk extinction http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb @presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
The Leuser Ecosystem protects Aceh’s people from deadly floods. SBY, stop the spatial plan http://chn.ge/1gK1VOb@presidenSBY, @GamawanFauzi
Sincerest thanks again for all your support in the push to protect the Leuser Ecosystem! #TheLastPlaceOnEarth
Kind regards from Aceh,
end of the icons team
[FAX ACTION] World Heritage for Leuser Ecosystem letter template and contact list.
Dear friends,
We are writing requesting you to lend your voice to a positive campaign to improve the protection and management of the Leuser Ecosystem (KEL) in Aceh, Sumatra. By faxing the attached letter, to the Governor Aceh, and the provided contact list in attachment, you will greatly emphasise the full list of recipients. In addition we hope this action will gain media attention and act as a catalyst for garnering further support for this campaign.
The attached letter urges the Governor of Aceh to nominate KEL to become a new UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). You are likely aware of the recent Science article (Le Saout et al., 2013) in which KEL was identified as one of the world’s foremost exceptionally irreplaceable areas for the conservation of threatened species. KEL is already recognized as a protected area under National law in Indonesia, not least due to its critical ecological services to communities, agriculture and industry. A nomination for World Heritage status would build upon this national and international recognition.
You may also be aware of the controversial spatial plan proposed by Aceh Parliament which received a great deal of media attention this year. Recently we have learned that a ‘Pergub’ has also been drafted: a Governors Law on KEL that would ‘legalize’ widespread damage to the critically important lowlands of the NE in particular. This is currently being aggressively pursued in order to push it through before the end of the year, disregarding calls by experts to wait for environmental sensitivity analyses of these irreplaceable areas.
A united positive message from the international scientific community now would therefore be extremely timely. Receiving a large volume of signed faxes from scientists and leading international institutions will highlight the incompatibility of a nomination for World Heritage status with the current Aceh spatial plan and impress upon the Governor of Aceh the fact that our community is paying close attention to the management and protection of this area.
The letter is addressed to the Governor of Aceh and we also ask you to fax the letter to various overseas embassies and the donor/aid community in an attempt to highlight a better way forward for Aceh. The aim is to create a situation in which these organisations can support the Aceh Government with technical expertise and funding to create and implement a scientifically sound spatial plan. A viable plan will maintain the biodiversity and environmental function of Aceh’s forests (e.g., water resources, mitigation of natural disasters), whilst maximising the opportunities for long-term sustainable economic development for Aceh.
We appreciate the effort required to send these as fax, but emails alone risk being drowned out in a “wave of protest” as we also have 4 public email petitions supporting this WHS nomination in preparation. By sending this as fax is separates this action from the easy click petitions, and highlights the importance of this action. Therefore, if you are willing to put your name to the attached letter, we ask that you aim for the highest impact possible and fax it as soon as possible to the list below. The costs of faxing are only manageable shared between us all.
Please find list of contacts and fax numbers in an attachment at the bottom of this post.
If you cannot fax from your institution’s fax machine, here is a link with methods to fax from your computer if you have a landline attached, or by using online services*: http://www.wikihow.com/Fax-Without-Using-a-Fax-Machine
(*Note that you will need to sign up for a 30 day free trial to use some free online fax services, be sure to cancel if you don’t wish to pay a monthly subscription fee beyond that).
Please email a scan of your letter letting us know that you have taken this action to: leuserecosystemwhs@gmail.com
We appreciate you sharing this email with your networks.
Kind regards,
Ian Singleton1 and Rudi Putra2
1Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme
2Future for Nature Award Winner (2013)
sample letter from GRASP letter Aceh Governor
Western black rhino officially declared extinct
LONDON (CNN) — Africa’s western black rhino is now officially extinct according the latest review of animals and plants by the world’s largest conservation network.
The subspecies of the black rhino — which is classified as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species — was last seen in western Africa in 2006.
The IUCN warns that other rhinos could follow saying Africa’s northern white rhino is “teetering on the brink of extinction” while Asia’s Javan rhino is “making its last stand” due to continued poaching and lack of conservation.
“In the case of the western black rhino and the northern white rhino the situation could have had very different results if the suggested conservation measures had been implemented,” Simon Stuart, chair of the IUCN species survival commission said in a statement.
“These measures must be strengthened now, specifically managing habitats in order to improve performance, preventing other rhinos from fading into extinction,” Stuart added.
The IUCN points to conservation efforts which have paid off for the southern white rhino subspecies which have seen populations rise from less than 100 at the end of the 19th century to an estimated wild population of 20,000 today.
Another success can be seen with the Przewalski’s Horse which was listed as “extinct in the wild” in 1996 but now, thanks to a captive breeding program, has an estimated population of 300.
The latest update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reviews more than 60,000 species, concluding that 25% of mammals on the list are at risk of extinction.
Many plants are also under threat, say the IUCN.
Populations of Chinese fir, a conifer which was once widespread throughout China and Vietnam, is being threatened by the expansion of intensive agriculture according to the IUCN.
A type of yew tree (taxus contorta) found in Asia which is used to produce Taxol (a chemotherapy drug) has been reclassified from “vulnerable” to “endangered” on the IUCN Red List, as has the Coco de Mer — a palm tree found in the Seychelles islands — which is at risk from fires and illegal harvesting of its kernels.
Recent studies of 79 tropical plants in the Indian Ocean archipelago revealed that more than three quarters of them were at risk of extinction.
In the oceans, the IUCN reports that five out of eight tuna species are now “threatened” or “near threatened,” while 26 recently-discovered amphibians have been added to the Red List including the “blessed poison frog” (classified as vulnerable) while the “summers’ poison frog” is endangered.
“This update offers both good and bad news on the status of many species around the world,” Jane Smart, director of IUCN’s global species program said in a statement.
“We have the knowledge that conservation works if executed in a timely manner, yet, without strong political will in combination with targeted efforts and resources, the wonders of nature and the services it provides can be lost forever.”
Urgent Call for Help
Please donate to bring a world-class photographer to Aceh to document threats to critically endangered species.
It has been widely reported in the media that the current Aceh administration is planning to open huge amounts of currently protected forest for commercial exploitation. Leading scientist are warning that opening these protected forest will increase natural disasters (ie. Landslide and flooding), human wildlife conflict with community and paved the way to extinction of Sumatra’s megafauna (Critically endangered Sumatran Rhino, Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Orangutan and Sumatran Elephant).
We are writing to request Paul to join our communications team for the duration of 7-10 days to photograph and profile the activities currently taking place undocumented in Aceh. Key aspects would be seeking to capture human-wildlife conflict and “natural disaster” that are currently taking place. The key proposed outcome of Paul’s trip to Aceh is to secure the currently missing images that can send the story of this campaign further than it is currently reaching.
Obviously, capturing the images that portray this story are exceptionally difficult and largely based upon being at the right place at the right time. This is where the working relationship between Paul, us, and our local partners provide the highest likelihood of success. Prior to Paul’s arrival, two weeks of field survey will be conducted by localized teams of forest rangers, working with local community to indicate the locations where these powerful images which will accelerate the campaign can be captured.
Unfortunately, our organization is not currently in the financial position to fund the anticipated US$ 6,500 cost to bring Paul to the field to photograph what is taking place. However it is viewed as essential for the broader campaign to protect and restore Aceh threatened forest that Paul is able to join the team at this critical time. As of right now, we have field reports of broad scale flooding and landslide along the entire west coast of Aceh and numerous human wildlife conflict taking place in central highland and east coast. The sooner Paul can get here to capture the disaster and conflict the better. Paul’s images, as we have seen in the past internationalize local issues and this is essential for the work we are currently undertaking right now.
This project is anticipated to be utilized to raised the profile of the campaign to protect and restore Aceh threatened forest, securing the last habitat where Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers and Orangutans still live in one place. We thank you in advance for your generous support.
To donate, please go to this LINK
Operation Aceh – Wildlife Asia’s mission to save critical rainforest facing imminent threat of destruction
Wildlife Asia
After conservationists seemingly won a small victory in 2012 to protect the Tripa peat forest in Aceh, a new, far more serious threat to Indonesia’s forests and wildlife has emerged.
The Indonesian Government appears poised to approve a proposal to free up 1.2 million hectares of protected virgin rainforest on Sumatra island for commercial exploitation.
Conversion of this primary rainforest could ultimately mean extinction for the last remaining populations of Sumatran orangutan, Sumatran rhino and elephant. The world renowned Leuser ecosystem is the only remaining forest to contain all of these species along with tigers, sunbears, gibbons, tapirs and leopards. It symbolises the enormous biodiversity teetering on a knife edge in Indonesia.
In a frightening development last week, Canadian mining company East Asia Minerals, said the plan to clear 1.2 million hectares was “positive news” for mining in the area.
An Indonesian forestry ministry spokesman says the government aims to approve the plan “in up to a month”.
In a strangely bold admission, East Asia Minerals explained how it is “working closely with Government officials in the country and has representatives on the ground in Aceh to obtain reclassification of the forestry zone from “protected forest” to a “production forest”.
Their statement suggests that they are effectively driving public policy, namely spatial planning, in Aceh.
It is imperative that spatial planning be based on sound scientific analysis of land suitability and environmental risks and it is outrageous to consider that such decisions could be driven by foreign companies with considerable financial incentive and complete disregard for the future wellbeing of local communities and a sustainable economy for Aceh.
Illegal logging and mining is already occurring in these concessions with devastating consequences for both the forest and the incredible wildlife it supports. The proposed changes to the spatial plan would also approve an extensive new network of roads, resulting in even further forest destruction and encroachment. In an area already prone to natural disasters, this is an incredibly dangerous decision and one which will invariably result in an increased loss of lives and huge economic losses to local communities.
Australian based conservation organisation, Wildlife Asia spokesperson, Clare Campbell said “Approval of the plan to free up this enormous area of forest for mining, paper and palm oil plantations is an environmental disaster of catastrophic proportions. Not only is this area the last chance for several species already in serious trouble but it also contains critical carbon sinks and forests that are essential for food security, regulating water flow and mitigating climate change. This will be devastating for the future of communities living in these areas as well as the broader region”.
Ms Campbell stated that “We have to stand strong against decisions that lack foresight. Wildlife Asia represents the wildlife, the people of Indonesia and the people of Australia. Forest destruction of this magnitude eventually impacts upon us all. We won’t compromise, the planet has been compromised enough. When does it stop?”
Wildlife Asia this week launched a campaign to raise funds to support local organisations in their mission to influence government decisions. Ms Campbell added “Campaigning at this level takes serious time and money and we need to pull in the heavyweights on this one. Once it’s gone, it’s gone…the future of the Sumatran orangutan, the Sumatran rhino and the people of Sumatra need the right decision to be made here. I urge all Australians to dig deep and assist us in any way possible”
Donations can be made here www.givenow.com.au/wildlifeasia
Wildlife Asia Director, Clare Campbell, is available for interviews and can be contacted on 0438 992 325
IAR March 2013 Orangutan Rescues
Orangutan Outreach has been partners with International Animal Rescue (IAR) since 2009. The orangutans of West Kalimantan (Indonesian Borneo) now have a safe haven at IAR’s Orangutan Rescue Center in Ketapang. There, they are cared for and rehabilitated by trained professionals until the day comes when they can be released into a safe forest or island sanctuary.
EarthDay to #SaveAceh
Hadiri dialog publik bertema EarthDay to #SaveAceh, diselenggarakan oleh change.org, Public Virtue, Humanitarian Forum Indonesia bersama endoftheicons
This is a public event and invitation open to everyone
please find media invite below
They need YOU. NOW
Aceh is currently preparing to open over 1.2 million hectares of protected forest for the development of mines, plantations, roads, logging and palm oil expansion. This devastating plan would reduce total forest cover of Aceh from 68% to 45% and see the destruction of Tripa and other areas of the protected Leuser Ecosystem driving Sumatran orangutan, elephants, tigers and rhinos to extinction.
Act now! This must be stopped.
More > http://www.sumatranorangutan.org
Donate > http://www.sumatranorangutan.org
Sign > http://www.change.org/SaveAceh
Share!
Act now! This is URGENT and it must be stopped.
Aceh is currently preparing to open over 1.2 million hectares of protected forest for the development of mines, plantations, roads, logging and palm oil expansion. This devastating plan would reduce total forest cover of Aceh from 68% to 45% whilst driving Sumatran orangutan, elephants, tigers and rhinos to extinction.
Act now! This is URGENT and it must be stopped.
MORE – http://www.sumatranorangutan.org
DONATE – http://www.sumatranorangutan.org
SIGN – http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Save_Sumatras_Rainforest/?cLRqweb
Donate
If you want to support the protection of the Leuser Ecosystem, we recommend you donate to the International Elephant Project. They’re doing great work. Click on the picture to donate.
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