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Pledge to protect Sumatran forest | Pledge to protect Sumatran forest |
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Indonesian authorities have pledged to stop the loss of forests and species in Sumatra, one of the world's most ecologically important islands. | Indonesian authorities have pledged to stop the loss of forests and species in Sumatra, one of the world's most ecologically important islands. |
Representatives of the island's 10 provinces, national government and the environment group WWF launched the deal at the World Conservation Congress. | Representatives of the island's 10 provinces, national government and the environment group WWF launched the deal at the World Conservation Congress. |
Sumatra has lost about half of its forest cover in the last 20 years. | Sumatra has lost about half of its forest cover in the last 20 years. |
It is home to a number of important and iconic species such as the tiger, orangutan, rhinoceros and elephant. | It is home to a number of important and iconic species such as the tiger, orangutan, rhinoceros and elephant. |
The island has suffered floods and forest fires in recent years that have been widely attributed to illegal forest clearance. | The island has suffered floods and forest fires in recent years that have been widely attributed to illegal forest clearance. |
Two years ago, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was forced to apologise to Singapore and Malaysia when smog from burning Sumatran forest covered the neighbouring countries. | Two years ago, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was forced to apologise to Singapore and Malaysia when smog from burning Sumatran forest covered the neighbouring countries. |
The need to deal with these issues appears to have played a big part in persuading the authorities to act. | The need to deal with these issues appears to have played a big part in persuading the authorities to act. |
"In the rainy months, we are seeing landslides and flooding more often, and it is time to make a real change," said Indonesia's deputy environment minister Hermien Roosita at a news briefing here. | "In the rainy months, we are seeing landslides and flooding more often, and it is time to make a real change," said Indonesia's deputy environment minister Hermien Roosita at a news briefing here. |
"Every governor from the 10 provinces and four (national) ministries have signed this monumental commitment to ecosystem restoration of the island and protecting the remaining natural forest." | "Every governor from the 10 provinces and four (national) ministries have signed this monumental commitment to ecosystem restoration of the island and protecting the remaining natural forest." |
More than 13% of the island's forests lie on peat, which contain vast amounts of carbon that would be lost to the atmosphere if the trees were removed, accelerating climate change. | More than 13% of the island's forests lie on peat, which contain vast amounts of carbon that would be lost to the atmosphere if the trees were removed, accelerating climate change. |
"When you look at the flora and fauna in this area and the rate of loss that's going on, this is a substantial commitment to protect and restore forests," said Gordon Shepherd, WWF's director of global policy. | "When you look at the flora and fauna in this area and the rate of loss that's going on, this is a substantial commitment to protect and restore forests," said Gordon Shepherd, WWF's director of global policy. |
The government has already regulated to stop clearance of virgin forest for palm oil plantations - grown for food, industry and biofuels - but the government acknowledges the ban may not be completely effective | The government has already regulated to stop clearance of virgin forest for palm oil plantations - grown for food, industry and biofuels - but the government acknowledges the ban may not be completely effective |
Good planning | Good planning |
As well as protecting and restoring forest, the authorities have pledged to make development on Sumatra obey principles of "ecosystem-based planning", where any projects detrimental to the island's ecological health would be banned. | As well as protecting and restoring forest, the authorities have pledged to make development on Sumatra obey principles of "ecosystem-based planning", where any projects detrimental to the island's ecological health would be banned. |
Indonesian authorities have pledged to stop the loss of speciesHowever, the vice-governor of the province of West Sumatra, Marlis Rahman, said help from the west would be needed to help meet the commitments. | Indonesian authorities have pledged to stop the loss of speciesHowever, the vice-governor of the province of West Sumatra, Marlis Rahman, said help from the west would be needed to help meet the commitments. |
"We are calling on the international community to support us in implementing this commitment on the ground and help us to find extra livelihoods by protecting our forests," he said. | "We are calling on the international community to support us in implementing this commitment on the ground and help us to find extra livelihoods by protecting our forests," he said. |
Mr Rahman did not put a figure on how much money might be needed, although he said say technical help was also part of the equation. | Mr Rahman did not put a figure on how much money might be needed, although he said say technical help was also part of the equation. |
With this agreement, Sumatra appears to have put itself in a good position to gain from measures to reduce deforestation as a way of combating climate change. | With this agreement, Sumatra appears to have put itself in a good position to gain from measures to reduce deforestation as a way of combating climate change. |
Such measures are highly likely to become a formal part of any future international agreement on climate going beyond the Kyoto Protocol. | Such measures are highly likely to become a formal part of any future international agreement on climate going beyond the Kyoto Protocol. |
Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukp> | Richard.Black-INTERNET@bbc.co.ukp> |