Press Release

Wildlife Crime: The Big Three Forest Crimes in The World and Related to Illegal Logging

(22 Desember 2008)

PRESS REALASE

To report immediately, December 23, 2008

Wildlife Crime: The Big Three Forest Crimes in The World and Related to Illegal Logging

Jakarta, December 23, 2008. Crimes against protected wildlife (wildlife crime) is the third largest forest crimes in the world with a trade value reaching 180 million U.S. dollars per year globally and 9 trillion rupiah per year nationally.  Thus the conclusion of the surgical notes show the end of orangutan conservation, held at the launch of the only media center for conservation in Indonesia, ICMC (Indonesian Conservation Media Center), Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at Hotel Nikko, Jakarta.

Protected wildlife such as orangutans, tigers, rhinos, and elephants, faces serious threats from poaching and illegal trade. Dwi Adhiasto, Project Officer with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) states "For orangutans, the results of monitoring the illegal trade in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and mapped that Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore as a destination countries." This trade was facilitated by a number of illegal markets in Kutacane, Meulaboh (Aceh), the Batang Toru, Jakarta and Banjarmasin. Apart from wildlife markets, trading of orangutans is also facilitated by a number of places where illegal logs out, such as Sukamara and Pagatan Kendawangan in Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan.

Handling step has so far been limited to the form of taking or confiscation of such protected wildlife. This step should be followed up with enforcement action. If not followed up, letting the action is a separate crime done by law enforcement and meet one of the elements of corruption are beneficial for certain groups continue to hunt, trade, and maintain wildlife illegally. "During the year 2008, most cases of trade in body parts of protected animals such as pangolin and the tiger had managed to reach a verdict. But for the case of orangutans, there has been no single case that comes to the making of the dossier and the new limited Minutes Seizures (BAP), "Dwi Adhiasto added.

Damage and loss of habitat also represents the greatest threat to rare wildlife is protected. Illegal logging or illegal logging that has received widespread attention, is an activity that plays a major role in the damage and loss of natural habitat for protected wildlife. In addition, there were also a high correlation between the crimes of illegal logging and wildlife crime. Yuyun Kurniawan, Director of Titian, said, "Those who engage in illegal logging crimes are also those who were behind the wildlife crime. In recent years, forest conversion along with the rapid expansion of oil palm plantation in Kalimantan are also increasing threats to the habitats and populations of wild orangutans in the wild ". These findings inferred from the number of cases related to crimes against the Orangutan Foundation is monitored by Titian in the last five years.
Unfortunately, compared to cases of illegal logging crimes, crimes against the orangutan, has not been one which has never been legally processed. This fact indicates the lack of Indonesian government's seriousness in protecting the orangutan to date and become the greatest challenge activists orangutan conservation in Indonesia. Law enforcement for crimes against protected endangered species should be a priority and investigations need to see the association with other crimes such as illegal logging, corruption and money laundering because this practice involves no small amount of money.

 
"Endangered species of wildlife such as orangutans, are in a situation of protected but not protected. Seventy percent of the habitat outside conservation areas. Therefore, these points are there in the action plan should be followed up immediately with the resulting ecosystem-based spatial planning policies that include consideration of the protection of endangered species are protected and prioritized enforcement measures, "said Jamartin Sihite, Deputy Chief of Party Orangutan Conservation Services Program. Conservation Strategy and Action Plan for the Orangutan is a document produced a year ago to coincide with penyelenggaraaan UNFCCC in Nusa Dua, Bali, in December 2007 in which includes an action plan for orangutan conservation in situ.
 
For more information:
1. Margiyono, ICMC, 08161370180, margiyono@mediakonservasi.org;
2. Dwi Adhiasto, WCS Indonesia, 0811796593, d.adhiasto @ wcsip.org;
3. Yuyun Kurniawan, Director of Yayasan Titian, leuweung@gmail.com 081349244686;
4. Jamartin Sihite, Deputy Chief of Party, OCSP, 08128573805, jamartin_sihite@dai.com


 

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