Sumatra's rare species threatened
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Parapat, North Sumatra
Ninety local and foreign environmentalists warned against the possible extinction of a total of 226 flora and fauna species in Sumatra because of intensive deforestation and development, and rampant poaching.
According to the environmentalists, the government has no alternative but to review its environmental policy to save the rare species, otherwise the large island, which is known for its rich biodiversity worldwide, would witness an environmental catastrophe over the next five years
The environmental experts and activists, some from India, the Netherlands, Japan and Britain, convened here for five days for a meeting jointly sponsored by International Conservation and the Leuser Management Unit to assess the conservation program and management plan in Sumatra.
Barita Oloan Manullang, a senior species-conservation specialist, confirmed that during the five-day meeting that ended on Friday, the experts and activists identified 90 species of flora and 176 species of fauna which were under threat of extinction. The list would be handed over to the Indonesian government for further action.
"We have no powers but a deep concern for Sumatran biodiversity, which, if not conserved, will disappear in a relatively short time. The government has the authority to enforce the law and to make environmental policy," he said, adding that the meeting had concluded that the threats had reached alarming levels.
Barita said that the Sumatran forests were home to tens of thousands of Sumatran tigers, rhinos and elephants ten years go but at the present, the number of individuals belonging to the protected species was little more than 2,000, scattered throughout the remaining forested areas along the Bukit Barisan mountain range stretching from Aceh to Lampung.
"The number of Sumatran tigers and elephants remaining is little more than 2,000, while the number of Sumatran rhinos is less than 50. The latter are only found in national parks in Riau, Bengkulu and Lampung," he explained, saying that rare reptiles and amphibians like the Sumatran Iguana had already disappeared.
Elisabeth Widjaya, an environmental researcher from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), said that over the last two years as many as 44 species of flora had become extinct while 18 others were under threat of extinction.
"The flora species facing extinction include what is locally known as rukam and bamboo, which were both easily found on the mainland several years ago," she said.
Barita blamed the extinction of the rare species on rampant poaching, logging, forest overexploitation and increasing development activities.
"The government must pay proper attention to these rare species. Otherwise, they will certainly become extinct over the next five years.
"The government must take action against individuals, companies or any institutions found guilty of destroying the environment, and it must review all laws threatening the flora and habitats of rare fauna in forest areas on the island," he said.
He also urged the government to set up a single authority, to handle environmental and biodiversity conservation, instead of numerous ministries as at present, so that the issuance of conflicting regulations and rulings on the environment could be avoided.
Human activities threatening flora ad fauna in Sumatra:
1. Road projects traversing the Gunung Leuser National Park in Aceh
2. Rampant illegal logging in numerous national parks in Sumatra
3. Intensive conversion of forests into farmland and plantations in Riau, South Sumatra, Lampung and Bengkulu
4. The granting of government-protected forest areas to farmers in Lampung
5. Rampant poaching of rare species in national parks for trading on the international black market