HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL Urgent Action on Leuser Ecosystem Required

HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL Urgent Action on Leuser Ecosystem Required (taken from the Indonesian Conservation Newsletter) 29th November 2002 Dear Friends Some of the world's most critically endangered species, including Sumatran orangutan, elephant, tiger, and rhinoceros are facing a serious and desperate new threat to their survival due to a government plan to build several major new roads that will drastically fragment a crucial part of their current range. Viable alternatives to the plan remain, but the local government of the province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), is likely to continue with its intention to construct these roads, and further destroy and fragment large, and in some cases critical parts, of the habitat of these species. Furthermore, they will irreparably damage the life support systems of the local human communities. The proposed roads will divide up what is known as the Leuser Ecosystem, a unique conservation area that is the only place in the world where the above species can still be found living side by side. It is also the only area where the Sumatran orangutan still occurs in anything even approaching viable numbers. This species is well recognised as the great ape that is likely to become extinct in the wild first, probably within the next 5 to 10 years, if not sooner. The proposed roads are so located that they will cut in half most of the few remaining viable populations of one of man's closest living relatives and therefore directly be responsible for its ultimate demise. They will also drastically impact the catchment areas of several extremely important rivers in the region, resulting in further depletion of natural water supplies to villages and towns and increased erosion, flooding and other natural disasters. The primary function of the roads would be to connect the eastern and western coastal areas of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. There can be no doubt that severe deforestation will take place along these roads as a result, stretching deeper into the surrounding forests. This has so often been the case with similar developments in Indonesia in the past and there are innumerable examples to verify this. Unfortunately, and ironically, the resultant long term physical damage and financial costs tend to far outweigh any economic benefits derived from the projects themselves. The plan will also violate several Indonesian regulations such as Act No 5/1994, ratifying the International Convention on Biodiversity, and Act No 5/1990 on the Conservation of Natural Resources and their Ecosystem, but despite this, it seems that the only hope to prevent the go ahead lies with huge and sustained international pressure. We therefore implore the International community to take up the challenge. As a first step we urge anyone and everyone to take a few moments of their time to write to the Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and the Minister of Settlement and Infrastructure. Letters and faxes should request that the current plan be halted immediately and alternative solutions examined for linking up the communities in east and west Aceh that do not have such a huge impact on the environment, and the numerous critically endangered species and embattled local communities that it supports. Letters and faxes should primarily be sent to the two addresses below. Mr. Abdullah Puteh Governor, Province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Jl. Nyak Arief Banda Aceh, Indonesia Tel: +62-651-21935 Fax: + 62-651-51091 Mr. Soenarno Minister of Settlement and Infrastructure Jl. Pattimura 20, Kebayoran Baru Jakarta, Indonesia Tel: +62-21-7262805/7203962 Fax: +62-21-7260769 Letters and faxes can also be sent to the following names: Her Excellency Megawati Soekarnoputri President of the Republic of Indonesia Istana Negara, Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara Jakarta, Indonesia Mr. Akbar Tanjung Chairman, Indonesian House of Representative (DPR-RI (Komisi V)) Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto No. 6, Senayan Jakarta, Indonesia Tel: +62-21-5756019 Fax: +62-21-5706057 Mr. Amien Rais Chairman, Council of Peoples Assembly (MPR-RI) Jl. Jendral Gatot Soebroto No.6, Senayan Jakarta 10270, Indonesia Tel: +62 21 572-5965, 571-5644, 571-5268 Mr. Nabiel Makarim Minister of Environment Gedung B. Kav. 24, Jl. D.I. Panjaitan Jakarta, Indonesia Tel: +62-21-8520392 Fax: +62-21-8580087 Mr. M. Prakosa Minister, Department of Forestry Gedung Manggala Wanabakti Blok I, Lt. 4 Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto, Senayan Jakarta 10270, Indonesia Tel: +62-21-5731820/5700278 Fax: +62-21-5700226 Mr. Kwik Kian Gie Head Indonesian Development Planning Body (Bappenas) Jakarta Jl. Taman Suropati No. 2 Jakarta 10310, Indonesia Tel: +62-21 336 027 / 390 5690 Fax: +62-21 314 5374 Mr. Hartlamer Susetyo Head of BTNGL Aceh Tenggara, North Sumatra Jl. Kutacane-Blangkejeren No. 17 Tanah Merah, Kutacane Aceh Tenggara, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Indonesia Tel: +62-629-21358/ +62-61-7868986 Fax: +62-629-21016 His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia Embassy of Indonesia 2020 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington DC 20036, USA His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia Embassy of Indonesia 38 Grosvenor Square London W1X 9AD, England His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia Embassy of Indonesia 8 Darwin Avenue, Yarralumla ACT 2600, Australia His Excellency the Ambassador of Indonesia 287 Maclaren Street, Ottawa Ontario, Canada K2P OL9 Averil Bones Wildlife Campaigner Humane Society International 61-2-9973 1728

Email: averil@hsi.org.au