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Indonesia's biodiversity - our rainforests |
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As this month?s theme is biodiversity, I would like to talk about rainforests in Indonesia. Indonesia contains the largest rainforest in all of Asia and is home to one of the most diverse set of floras and faunas. Indonesia?s rainforest is home to plenty endangered animals such as the Sumatran Tigers, Rhinos, orang-utans and pygmy elephants (information from RAN?s website -http://www.ran.org/indonesian-rainforests ). Indonesia?s rainforest has one of the most unique floras and faunas ranging from the Rafflesia and 5000 different species of orchids to various animals such as the sumatran rhino and birds. Over 25000 species of floras are found in Indonesia?s rainforests and 40% of them don?t exists anywhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, over half of Indonesia?s rainforest has been cleared for plantations. Due to these deforestations that plenty has been done under poorly enforced regulations, various species have gone extinct such as the Javan tiger. Not only does it deplete the habitats of unique floras and faunas, deforestation often leads to forest fires such as the one that occurred in Riau. I have talked about this forest fire in a previous article, but it has come into my attention again as it is also caused by human activities. Riau?s forest fire not only destroyed animal habitats, it also caused a huge problem to neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Singapore as the smoke resulted in haze. It is important for us to conserve our rainforests as it is home to a lot of animals and they are also the source of timber. It is alright to cut down trees ONLY when there is a strict regulation that would enforce the companies to plant twice the number of trees that they cut down and other regulations in order to conserve our rainforests and animal habitats. What will we do if Indonesia?s rainforest is all gone? and what happens when all of the floras and faunas are extinct? then people would regret. We should act now and make a difference. The government is currently planning a way to protect the remaining rainforests and the animals that lives in it. |
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4 Comments
Thanks for bringing us news from Indonesia, Patricia. I came across an article the other day how environmentally friendly looking technology or consumption led to deforestation in many parts of the world, including Indonesia as well. Palm oil for example, came to be a cash cow for entrepreneurs, made them to think of wiping out natural forestation in the wild and replace with palm trees which are, by the nature of mass homogeneity, easily affected by disease and infection. Thanks for the covering the issue! take care!
Posted 24-05-2016 11:35
Patricia, rainforests not only at Indonesia but also at different nations is a treasure warehouse that provides home to thousands of specieis. Before clearing them for plantation, we need to consider the fact that once rainforests are destroyed, it is impossible to bring them back. Thanks for reporting and have a splendid day!
Posted 23-05-2016 17:26
Indonesia's rainforests are known as one of earth's most biologically and culturally rich landscapes. Till 1960, about 80 percent of Indonesia was forested. But sadly, Indonesia has one of the highest deforestation rates in the world, and as you mentioned just under half of the country's original forest cover now remains. Demand for commodities (like pulp, paper, plywood and palm oil) has combined with corruption, political croneyism, uncertainty about land rights and poorly enforced policies to create the conditions for a massive land and resource grab by large corporate interests has resulted in skyrocketing environmental and social problems resulting from all of this forest clearing. This profit driven resource rush is clear cutting rainforests, destroying critical habitat for endangered species, and sowing social conflict with communities that depend on the forests for their livelihoods. I hope government takes strict measures against those behind it and implements laws and policies to stop it further.
Thanks for sharing.
Posted 20-05-2016 22:39
Very sad to learn the destruction of over half of Indonesia's rainforest. Human activities are greatest evil of modern era contributing to killing the eco-system.
Conservation of these and all other rain forests is the biggest challenge of current century. Thanks for the report, Patricia.
Posted 20-05-2016 18:04