Dear friends,
Last year over a million of us successfully froze the plan to kill orangutans but the battle to save them is heating up again and unless we raise our voices once more - we could lose the last place on Earth where orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants roam free together. Click below to sign the urgent petition:
Last year over 1.3 million of us called for the protection of the last place on Earth where orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants still roam free together. Amazingly, we froze the proposed plan that would have destroyed vast swathes of pristine rainforest in Sumatra. But now the local government is gearing up to revive the destruction, unless we act.
Palm oil, paper and mining companies stand to make money from developing this delicate ecosystem, and their pressure on the government to start cutting trees is working. But Europe holds the key to an even more powerful trade incentive for Indonesia, and experts say if the EU Ambassador speaks up now, he could protect the orangutans for good.
Conservation organisations in Sumatra are doing their best to get his attention but they’re asking for our help to amplify the urgent call. Let’s shine the global spotlight on the EU Ambassador to make sure he acts before it is too late. Sign now:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/aceh_rainforest_petition_loc/?bmeCxdb&v=38550
Approval of the plan to free up this enormous area of forest for mining, paper and palm oil plantations is an environmental disaster of catastrophic proportions. This place is the last chance for many species already in serious trouble.
As the EU Ambassador for Indonesia, Olof Skoog, can provide the political and technical support needed for the local government to properly review the current destructive plan and convince them to protect the most fragile part of the rainforest. There is considerable momentum already towards this solution with individual EU countries taking an interest but it needs to be a coordinated approach to have a strong impact and the Ambassador is the best person for the job.
The EU has been a major donor to sustainable development in Sumatra and Mr. Skoog should feel obligated to ensure that the gains made through this investment are not being put at serious risk by this destructive plan. Insiders say the only reason he’s not taking action already is because he hasn’t realised just how important this issue is and what he can do.
The biggest battle to save this rainforest is yet to be won. Let’s raise the volume of the call to the Ambassador and let him know we’re relying on him to save one of the most important forests on the planet. Click below to sign the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/aceh_rainforest_petition_loc/?bmeCxdb&v=38550
Against all odds, we already helped delay the approval of this plan -- ensuring the national government took action to amend it. Then we came together and saved one million dollars worth of habitat for endangered species including orangutans. This is the last step to win a safe future for orangutans in Indonesia, and the players are all in place to make this a win!
With hope and determination,
Lisa, Emma, Ari, Sayeeda, Emily, Ricken and the whole Avaaz team
MORE INFORMATION:
In Indonesia, Environmentalists See a Disaster in the Making (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/12/world/asia/in-indonesia-environmentalists-see-a-disaster-in-the-making.html
Australian companies accused of jeopardising conservation in Indonesia (The Guardian)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/mar/24/australian-companies-accused-of-hampering-conservation-in-indonesia
Global calls to save Aceh forest (The Jakarta Post)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/05/19/global-calls-save-aceh-forest.html
Indonesia Moves Towards Approving Deforestation Plan in Aceh (Jakarta Globe)
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/nvironment/indonesia-moves-towards-approving-deforestation-plan-in-aceh/586752
Conservation scientists: Aceh's spatial plan a risk to forests, wildlife, and people (Mongabay)
http://news.mongabay.com/2013/0322-atbc-aceh-declaration.html
Aceh draft bylaw risks forests, say activists (Jakarta Post)
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/03/14/aceh-draft-bylaw-risks-forests-say-activists.html
Mining company working with Indonesian government to strip forest of protected status (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/17/mining-indonesian-forest
Indonesia's Protected Rainforests Disappearing (Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-reese-halter/indonesias-protected-rain_b_2944815.html
