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Tripa peatswamp forest on fire: Orangutans under threat
02-Apr-2012
A firestorm is sweeping across Tripa’s protected peatswamp forests, endangering the last few hunderd Orangutans remaining in this threatened area. The fires seem a direct result from draining for illegal palm oil expansion into the area. Wetlands International is saddened by the devastation of this forest; the organisation has called for many years for a better conservation of the precious old growth forest.
The loss of Tripa Forest in Northern Sumatra is not a stand-alone example. All over Indonesia, the vulnerable peatswamp forests are being lost. Many areas are directly logged and drained for palm oil or pulp wood plantations. Others are degrading and become very fire prone due the drainage at other parts of the peat dome. As a result, intact peatswamp forests with their rich and beautiful nature and high carbon stocks are getting hard to find.
The federal Indonesian government has issued a two year moratorium to ban new concessions in
forests and peatlands. Despite this moratorium, some areas are still logged and drained; due to earlier issued concessions and due to illegal developments.
Click here for a
press release of different organisations on the recent developments in Tripa.