[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 30, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    FOREST CONSERVATION IN INDONESIA

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to commend 
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for his statements on 
December 10, 2007, at the Bali Climate Conference, concerning the 
Ministry of Forestry's ``Strategy and Action Plan for National 
Conservation of Orangutans.''
  The President said ``the survival of the orangutan is inextricably 
linked to the survival of its natural habitat: the rainforests. . . . 
[T]o save orangutans, we must save the forests. And by saving, 
regenerating, and sustainably managing forests, we are also doing our 
part in reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, while contributing to 
sustainable economic development of Indonesia. Successful orangutan 
conservation is the symbol of responsible management of the earth's 
resources.''
  President Yudhoyono's eloquent words represent an important 
recognition by the Indonesian Government that preserving orangutan 
habitat is an environmental imperative, not only to protect this 
magnificent species from extinction but to help reduce carbon emissions 
resulting from the destruction of Indonesia's forests.
  A decade ago I included funds in the Foreign Operations Act to 
support programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International 
Development to protect the orangutan. Those initial funds have evolved 
into an ongoing program implemented through grants to nongovernmental 
organizations and for training of Indonesian police, and has begun to 
show encouraging results. Not only are the entities involved in this 
effort working more cooperatively together, the Indonesian Government 
is taking steps to curb illegal logging which poses the greatest threat 
to the orangutan's survival.
  The orangutan's fate is far from certain. Far more needs to be done 
to protect the forests of Borneo and Sumatra where these great apes 
live. But by recognizing the opportunities this challenge presents for 
Indonesia and the world, President Yudhoyono has done a great service 
to this effort and gives us hope that the orangutan can be saved.
  I ask unanimous to have an article in the Telegraph about President 
Yudhoyono's announcement of Indonesia's new Strategy and Action Plan 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

               [From the Daily Telegraph, Dec. 28, 2007]

               Indonesia Plants Trees To Save Orangutans

                             (By Ian Wood)

       At the Bali climate summit, Indonesia announced a new 
     scheme aimed at protecting its orangutan population.
       The plight of the orangutan, driven out because of 
     deforestation and degradation of its rainforest home, has 
     become a potent symbol of the battle to save the forests.
       The most recent survey of wild orangutans estimates that 
     there are about 7000 remaining in Sumatra, and about 55,000 
     in Borneo. However the combined pressures of palm oil, 
     logging and forest fires are having a catastrophic effect on 
     many areas.
       Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the 
     launch of the project: ``In the last 35 years about 50,000 
     orangutans are estimated to have been lost as their habitats 
     shrank. If this continues, this majestic creature will likely 
     face extinction by 2050. The fate of the orangutan is a 
     subject that goes to the heart of sustainable forests . . . 
     to save the orangutan we have to save the forest.''
       For anyone with an interest in protecting Indonesian 
     rainforests these have to be welcome words.
       The action plan has taken nearly three years to develop and 
     has included various NGO's and the Indonesian forestry 
     ministry. The American group The Nature Conservancy has 
     represented the coalition of NGO's and has also pledged $1 
     million to support the plan. The bold target of the project 
     is to save huge areas of forest scheduled for conversion to 
     palm oil.
       ``One million hectares of planned forest conversion 
     projects are in orangutan habitat,'' said Rill Djohani, 
     director of The Nature Conservancy's Indonesia program.
       ``Setting aside these forests is an important step for 
     Indonesia to sustainably manage and protect its natural 
     resources. It benefits both local people and wildlife while 
     making a major contribution towards reducing global carbon 
     emissions.''
       Indonesia has made some progress in enforcing forest laws 
     over the last few years and if this plan can be implemented 
     it would be a landmark in Indonesian forest protection.
       Dr. Erik Meijaard, a senior scientist with The Nature 
     Conservancy, said: ``It could lead to 9,800 orangutans being 
     saved and prevent 700 million tons of carbon from being 
     released.''
       Although Indonesia has already destroyed huge swathes of 
     rainforest, it still has over 100 million acres left. Both 
     scientists and Indonesian officials hope that the emerging 
     carbon market could provide funds to protect important areas.
       ``Forest conservation can provide economic benefits for a 
     very long time,'' said Dr. Meijaard. ``If payments for 
     avoided deforestation become an official mechanism in global 
     climate agreements, then carbon buyers will likely compensate 
     Indonesia for its forest protection. Protecting the orangutan 
     will then lead to increased economic development in the 
     country. Such a triple-win situation is not a dream. With 
     some political will, it can soon be reality.''
       The other target of the project is to return orangutans 
     housed in rehabilitation centres to the forest by 2015. There 
     are currently over 1000 orangutan housed in care centres with 
     more arriving on a regular basis. The majority are ready to 
     be returned to the wild now but there are simply not enough 
     suitable release sites. If carbon trading could achieve the 
     aims of this plan, then these great apes could return to the 
     forests where they belong.

                          ____________________