UNESCO Paper

BIO/100

The Tropical rainforest Heritage of Sumatra is made up of three national parks: Gunung Leuser National Park, Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park. This protected area is home to estimate 10,000 plant species, including 17 endemic genera; more than 200 mammal species; and some 580 bird species of which 465 are resident and 21 are endemic. (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) One example of an endangered animal would be the Clouded Leopard. The Clouded Leopard is also found in China, Nepal, and Thailand, but in those countries they are in no danger of becoming extinct like they are in the Sumatra. The Green Turtle is another animal in the Sumatra that has been put on the Red List. Although there have been other records in Austrilia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, and the Philippines of Green Turtles all doing well, except in Honduras where they are also Red Listed. There are several species that can be found in other regions that are thriving, but there are still many species that show no other records and are in trouble in the Sumatra. Examples like the Mainland Serow, Sumatrain Tigar, and the Hoogerwerf’s Rat are all species that are in danger. In recent news there have been stories of Sumatran Tigers being caught in snares that are set up by either poachers or in an attempt to eliminate predators that may prey on livestock. One animal that was caught last year died from its wounds. The animal had gone days with no food or water before found, but it was too late. Another story of a cub that was found lived, but only to live in captivity due to the fact that they had to amputate the leg. With this the animal cannot hunt or fend for him and must rely on humans for survival now.

Plants and animals rely on each other for survival in areas such as the Sumatra. Plants provide a great deal for the animals that live among them. Plants provide homes, food, and disguise from predators. With plants and trees being destroyed the safety of the wildlife goes down. Many people form groups to help protect and preserve this land so that the animals and the other wild life are saved. People do not like to see their countries animals dying due to illegal logging, and other forms of destruction to the rainforest. Poaching being another threat it is important that the animals have the protection they require, and that protection comes from the trees and plants found in the rainforest.

At the current rate of deforestation, Sumatra’s remaining lowland rain forest will be completely gone within the next ten years unless drastic actions are taken to halt the rampant logging. From 1985 to 1997, 15,000 km of the rainforest was destroyed, more than 1,000 km a year. Since then the annual rate is only increasing. In Gunung Leuser National Park there has been a large amount of illegal logging taking place. Another threat to the life of these forests is poaching. From 1990-1996 the number of Sumatran rhinoceros in the Kerinci-Seblat National Park fell from 300 to about 30. (World Wildlife Fund (Content Partner); Mark McGinley (Topic Editor). 2008. "Sumatran montane rain forests." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 30, 2007; Last revised September 3, 2008; Retrieved July 1, 2009].) Indonesia is a large exporter of tropical timer, and the second largest producer of palm oil. Land conversion for agriculture and logging are the two main reasons that the Sumatra is losing its forest.

The government in Indonesia is failing at enforcing the laws on deforestation and in result the forests are disappearing. Indonesia has laws to protect forests and limit agricultural burning, they are poorly enforced. Forest management has been infected by corruption and lack of political commitment. Underpaid government officials combined with the prevalence of disreputable businessmen and shifty politicians, means that logging bans go unenforced. With so many high officials looking at personal gain rather than the preservation of this land logging continues and is over looked. Forrest fires are left unattended as well causing even larger areas of this rainforest to disappear. The government refuses to enforce any punishment on the guilty parties. In 1997 there was a special budget for the reforestation fun that could aid in controlling a forest fire, but the funds were used for the presidents son’s failing car project. Without the government backing on the preservation of this land the Sumatra Rainforests will no longer exist. Today the government still refuses to properly punish those that are violating the laws. Without enforcement laws are useless. Indonesia can no longer afford to overlook criminal activities.

After several years one group finally won rights to manage a newly names Harapan Rainforest. This 250,000 acre area that is home to 267 bird species, the Sumatran tiger, the Asian elephant and the newly identified clouded leopard are protected. The group plans on planting more trees that will replace the trees that were lost to logging. In time the conservationist are certain that the land will go back to its original state. Grahan Whynne Said: “This is a ground-breaking project achieved with the full support of the Indonesian government. It is hugely significant not just for rainforest conservation in Asia but for other parts of the world as well.” With some positive support from the government other areas of the Sumatra could be saved, or the laws that are already in place may be enforced.

The people of Indonesia need to stand up and voice their thoughts on the illegal actions that are taking place. If there were more groups like the RSPB maybe then more could be done to protect the rainforests and stop deforestation. The communities need to band together to help make sure that the laws against logging are enforced. People need to come up with other alternatives then destroying the rainforest. It is clear that the government is not on the side to protect, so the first thing that the people in Indonesia need to do is to elect a better candidate to run the country. It is hard today to find an honest politician but they are out there. It is in the hands of the people to make the country and the life on that land what it is.

If the government continues to ignore those that are breaking the laws and ignore the fires taking place, it will be the end of the forest. If something isn’t done about the logging, and poaching, all life in the rainforests will be at risk. If the entire forest is destroyed, then what? What will the government and its people do then? There will be no more trees to log, no more animals to poach. The people of Indonesia need to look at the future and what this will mean for everyone. The government needs to back the people and start preserving the land, as well as enforcing the law for those that are going to go against it. If trees are lost to fires, or logging, they should be working to replant and maintain the land so it can continue to thrive. The people need to create more groups that will work to start restoring the land that has been damaged. The safety of the animals, the wellbeing of the plant life and bird life in the Sumatran rainforests fall in the hands of the people, they are the ones that can make it rise, or make it fall. In time if nothing is done to preserve this land, it will no longer exsit.

References

World Wildlife Fund (Content Partner); Mark McGinley (Topic Editor). 2008. "Sumatran montane rain forests." In: Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds. Cutler J. Cleveland (Washington, D.C.: Environmental Information Coalition, National Council for Science and the Environment). [First published in the Encyclopedia of Earth August 30, 2007; Last revised September 3, 2008;

Retrieved July 1, 2009]. http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sumatran_montane_rain_forests

Wildlife Extra 2008 Landmark law saves Sumatran rainforest.

Retrieved at: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/harapan-rainforest.html#cr

Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com (February 25, 2011). Indonesian Borneo and Sumatra lose 9% of forest cover in 8 years.

Retrieved at: http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0225-indonesia_sumatra_borneo.html

mongabay.com editorial (October 16, 2006). Forest fires result from government failure in Indonesia.

Retreived at: http://news.mongabay.com/2006/1015-indonesia.html/

Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com (June 05, 2012). New campaign targets snares in effort to save world's big cats.

Retrieved at: http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0605-hance-cats-snares.html