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Police arrests men behind illegal ivory Facebook trade in Central Java

JAKARTA — The devil works hard, but law enforcement works harder to foil illegal wildlife trading via online.

On Thursday (2/5), law enforcement from Ministry of Environment and Forestry and Pati District Police arrested three men, OF, CK, and MHF, suspected of actively selling products made by elephant ivories through social media, Facebook, throughout Indonesia.

The police confiscated 200 items of ivory made products, such as cigarette pipes, rings, bracelets, and necklaces from the suspects.

From initial analysis, state loss from this illegal trade reaches to Rp420 billion (US$29 million) in total. However, based on the 1990 Law on Conservation, the perpetrators would only face a maximum of five years in prison and Rp100 million of fine (US$6,981).

“This is not just about the loss [in] rupiah, but what this crime also means is elephant population in our [country] is really threatened because elephants is one of the ecosystem knot in the forests need to be protected,” said Sustyo Iriyono, Director of Forest Prevention and Protection at the Ministry, in a press release.

Elephant population in Indonesia is predicted to be around 2,000 individuals.

In addition to rampant online and offline illegal wildlife trading, elephant is facing threats from conflicts with humans. Cases of elephants killed because of conflicts with humans have surfaced in Aceh, Riau, Bengkulu, and Lampung. (FF).

[Reuters] Jakarta’s plan to up stakes may need $30 bln in investment – minister

As Indonesia’s capital faces worsening floods from over-extraction of ground water and sea level rise, the government announces a plan for a new capital.

By Tabita Diela

JAKARTA, April 30 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s plan to move its capital off the main island of Java will require investment of about $20 billion to $30 billion, a minister said on Tuesday, even though the government has yet to decide on a new location.

President Joko Widodo on Monday approved a plan to relocate government offices away from Jakarta less than two weeks after private pollsters indicated he had won an April 17 presidential election.

Jakarta is home to more than 10 million people, but around three times that many live in the surrounding towns, adding to severe traffic congestion that the government estimated costs $7 billion in economic losses each year.

Bambang Brodjonegoro, Widodo’s planning minister, said the government will design a new capital to house 900,000 to 1.5 million people, mostly government employees and their families.

While most government offices will be relocated, the central bank as well as financial and investment authorities will likely stay put, Brodjonegoro said.

“Creating a new capital is not creating a second Jakarta. This new capital is only for the centre of government,” Brodjonegoro told reporters.

The plan could cost 323 trillion rupiah to 466 trillion rupiah ($22.66 billion to $32.7 billion), he said, adding that planning, designing and construction would take up to 10 years.

The government does not know the new location but the president asked online where people thought the capital should be, prompting more than 100,000 comments.

Some wanted the city in their part of the archipelago, while others were less welcoming.

An Instagram user muhammad_ramdhani021 said he did not want the capital to be moved to a possible contender Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo.

“Let our city remain green and beautiful, unpolluted. If you decide to move to Palangkaraya, we the natives will be pushed aside.”

Indonesia suffers from intense seismic activity in many areas and Brodjonegoro said the capital would be an area with a lower natural disaster risk, such as the eastern part of Sumatra, Borneo or the southern side of Sulawesi islands.

Analysts welcomed the plan, particularly after recent flooding in parts of Jakarta highlighted the vulnerability of the low-lying capital that is sinking due to over-extraction of ground water.

The Economist Intelligence Unit said migrating the capital made sense for long-term development and sustainability, though it warned that there were significant challenges.

($1 = 14,255 rupiah) (Additional reporting by Bernadette Christina Munthe and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Ed Davies and Nick Macfie).

[The article is republished from Reuters]

Photo from Pixabay.

 

Javan Leopards spotted by camera traps in Guntur – Papandayan Conservation Areas of West Java

JAKARTA — Conservation International Indonesia and West Java Natural Resources Agency on Tuesday (30/4) released pictures of camera traps spotted ten Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas), — three male adults and seven female adults — in 60 locations of Guntur-Papandayan Conservation Forest Management unit, as stated by the national newspaper, KOMPAS, on Thursday (2/5).

The monitoring was conducted between 2016 and 2018 producing 83 out of the total of 1,214 pictures taken by camera traps.

Since 2008, Javan leopard, an endemic species to Javan island, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

There is no official release for the population, however, in 2015, a conservationist predicts at least 500 leopards in the wildlife, calculated from the remaining forest in Java island and the leopard’s range (source : TEMPO).

The Guntur – Papandayan Conservation Forest Management unit, located in Bandung and Garut districts of West Java, is the home of unique and other endangered species, including Silvery Gibbon (Hylobates moloch), Javan Surili (Presbytis comata), Javan hawk-eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), and Javan slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus).

To tirto.id, Anton Ario, Senior Manager of Terrestrial Program, CI Indonesia, said that Guntur – Papandayan is still relatively good habitat for Javan leopards, despite of rampant forest encroachment and rising population in the areas. [FF]

(PHOTO BY CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL INDONESIA/FIRST PUBLISHED BY KOMPAS).

 

Javan rhino death in Ujung Kulon National Park halts its population to 68 individuals

JAKARTA — Recent death of a juvenile male Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus) in Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park of Banten province reduce the population to 68 individuals in the protected areas, as stated by Ministry of Environment and Forestry in a press release on Tuesday (30/4).

The Rhino Protection Unit found the rhino’s dead body on March 21st and identified him as Manggala with ID number : 070-2017.

The ministry stated that Manggala had been dead for 12 hours before the team found him. Initial examination ruled out infectious disease as cause of death or illegal hunting because he was still too young to develop horns and found in fresh condition.

To KOMPAS, Director of Biodiversity Conservation at the Ministry, Indra Eksploitasia, said it was most likely that Manggala was killed during a fight because of wounds found in his body.

Eksploitasia added that it’s normal for the solitary animal to fights with opposite sex, especially during mating process.

In 2018, a male Javan rhino, Samson, was also found dead at Ujung Kulon National Park. The early autopsy stated that he was not killed for its horns nor because of infectious disease. No further statement provided for this death.

Javan rhino, listed as critically endangered in the Red List Data Book issued by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources [IUCN], can only be found at Ujung Kulon National Park.

Its extinction is triggered by illegal hunting, declining habitat, and also difficult to mate.

Up to 21 March 2019, there are 68 individuals, — 57 adults and 11 calves –, with 37 males and 31 females. [FF]

34 PLTU Mangkrak, Tata Kelola Energi Indonesia Berantakan

Mangkraknya pembangunan 34 proyek PLTU yang berujung pada kerugian triliunan rupiah menandakan bahwa pemerintah ‘berantakan’ dalam tata kelola energi.

Hal tersebut disampaikan oleh Merah Johansyah, Koordinator Nasional JATAM, saat dihubungi Mongabay.co.id beberapa waktu lalu.

Berdasarkan Perpres No.71 tahun 2006 dan Perpres No.4 tahun 2010 di mana PLN harus mempercepat pembangunan listrik 7000 MW.

Namun, Sekretaris Kabinet Pramono Anung mengumumkan kepada wartawan bahwa ada 12 dari 34 proyek dipastikan tidak dapat dilanjutkan dan ada kerugian negara sebesar Rp3,76 triliun.

Ke-34 proyek yang mangkrak merupakan bagian dari Fast Track Program Tahap 1 pada tahun 2009, pada pemerintahan sebelumnya. Jumlah investasi hampir mencapai lima triliun rupiah.

Ke-12 pembangkit tersebut, PLTU Kuala Tungkal (2×7 MW) di Jambi, PLTU Bengkalis (2x10MW) di Riau, PLTU Ipuh Seblat (2x3MW) di Bengkulu, PLTU Tembilahan (2,5,5 MW) di Riau, PLTU Sampit (2x25MW) di Kalteng, PLTU Buntok (2×7 MW) di Kalteng, PLTU Kotabaru (2x7MW) di Kalsel, PLTU Tarakan (2×7 MW), di Kalut, PLTU Bau Bau (2×7 MW) di Sultra, PLTU Raha (2×3 MW) di Sultra, PLTU Wangi Wangi (2×3 MW) di Sultra, PLTU Kaibumui (2,6 MW) di Maluku, dan PLTU Jayapura (2×15 MW) di Papua.

Namun, dalam perkembangan terbaru, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) menyatakan bahwa 17 dari 34 proyek tersebut dilanjutkan, enam proyek diambil alih oleh PLN, sementara 11 proyek diputus kontraknya.

Lebih lanjut, Merah mengatakan bahwa tidak hanya salah kelola tetapi ada indikasi korupsi akibat tidak transparan.

“Buktinya, proyek tersebut justru menimbulkan kerugian negara. Proyek-proyek tersebut justru menjadi bancakan bagi para pemburu proyek di ESDM dan pemerintahan Jokowi sendiri,” tegas Merah yang juga mencurigai motif dari pembangunan PLTU akibat tidak adanya keterlibatan masyarakat.

Sementara itu, Leonard Simanjuntak, kepala Greenpeace Indonesia, berharap bahwa penghentian tersebut membuat pemerintah untuk berpikir ‘out of the box’.

“Kami ingin bilang kalau dominan batubara berarti kita deal dengan aktor-aktor yang dominan secara politik,” jelasnya. “Berdasarkan pengalaman Indonesia, kalau aktor-aktornya dominan secara politik, governance yang bersih dan akuntabel akan susah ditegakkan makanya kita punya yang mangkrak-mangkrak ini.”

Ia pun mendorong agar pemerintah bisa serius mengeksplorasi energi terbarukan.

“Coba dieksplore, kalau mangkrak di fossil fuel, coba pikir gimana renewables energybisa gantikan itu. Kalau mau berpikir begitu, berarti pelaku bisnisnya baru yang kait mengait tidak sedominan sekarang,” tegasnya. “Let’s have a new game. A new ball game yang baik untuk semua, untuk pemerintah, kompetisi bisnis lebih jujur dan transparan.”

Berdasarkan Peraturan Pemerintah (PP) Nomor 79 Tahun 2014 tentang Kebijakan Energi Nasional, porsi energi terbarukan mencapai 23 persen pada tahun 2025 dan paling sedikit 30 persen pada tahun 2050.

Namun, hingga tahun 2016, Indonesia baru bisa memanfaatkan satu persen atau 8.215,6 MW dari total potensi 801.311 MW, — panas bumi, air, bioenergi, surya, angin dan laut –.

Direktur Eksekutif Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), Fabby Tumiwa, mengatakan bahwa proyek-proyek tersebut sudah dibiarkan mangkrak selama sepuluh tahun sehingga harus dipertimbangkan kembali kondisi dan kebutuhan daerah-daerah tersebut.

“Itu kan memang proyek-proyek kecil, hanya 2×5 MW. Sudah dirancang pada tahun 2006-07 dan bagian dari Fast Track Phase Satu. Saat itu kan kondisi listrik berbeda dengan sekarang. Apakah memang masih dibutuhkan? Kalau iya, harus disesuaikan dengan mempertimbangkan kondisi di daerah tersebut,” jelas Fabby.

Ia mengatakan bahwa PLN sedang mempertimbangkan membangun PLTMG (Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Mesin Gas) namun masih menggunakan BBM.

“Kalau opsi BBM, berarti harus dipikirkan [pasokan] solar,” lanjutnya. “Bisa saja dengan RE [renewable energy] tapi harus sesuai dengan demand dan profile daerah setempat. Bisa nggak digunakan biofuel atau kalau ada biomassa.”

Sementara itu, Merah menegaskan dengan adanya kasus mangkrak, pemerintah harusnya tidak lagi melanjutkan pembangunan 35000 MW yang mayoritas, atau lebih dari 60 persen, menggunakan batubara.

Penyediaan listrik sebesar 35000 MW merupakan kebijakan lanjutan dari 10000 MW yang sudah dicetuskan sejak pemerintahan Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Sebanyak 35 proyek dengan total kapasitas 10.681 MW akan dibangun oleh PLN dan 74 proyek dengan total kapasitas 25.904 MW akan dibangun oleh swasta (Independent Power Producer/IPP).

Dimulai pada tahun 2015, keseluruhan proyek tersebut diharapkan bisa diselesaikan pada tahun 2019.

Namun, pembangunan ini ditentang oleh para aktivias lingkungan karena hampir 60 persen pembangkit listrik akan menggunakan batubara yang berpotensi untuk menambah emisi gas rumah kaca dan meningkatkan risiko gangguan kesehatan.

Dalam perkembangan terbaru, akibat ketergantungan batubara untuk kebutuhan listrik, Indonesia mendapatkan Fossil of the Day Award, sebuah penghargaan sindiran dari para aktivis lingkungan internasional yang tergabung dalam Climate Action Network (CAN) dan diumumkan di perundingan perubahan iklim yang sedang berlangsung di Marrakech, Maroko.

Merah mengatakan bahwa Indonesia sudah memiliki komitmen terhadap perjanjian perubahan iklim yang artinya harus bisa menjaga suhu bumu di bawah 1,5 derajat Celsius yang mau tidak mau harus diikuti dengan komitmen energi yaitu, zerobatubara.

 

do-something-today-that-your-future-self-will-thank-you-for

Voluntary certification standards have far to go, say experts

  • Certification should be combined with other standard public policies to promote sustainable forest management principles, say experts.
  • Experts point to a need for more relationship building between voluntary certification schemes and public institutions.
  • Effective certification requires the cooperation of policy makers, certification schemes, companies, academics and other stakeholders.

 

An expert assessment of a globally popular alternative to regulation – voluntary certification standards systems – has found that results are not always effective. Of the increasing number of voluntary certification standards (VCS) for materials in forestry, palm oil, and fisheries, many are proving ineffective at achieving comprehensive protection and conservation of biodiversity.

Scientists with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) explored why the effectiveness of VCS systems are getting such mixed reviews. In a collected publication of 10 peer-reviewed papers, “Policy Matters: Certification and biodiversity – How voluntary certification standards impact biodiversity and human livelihoods”, the scientists investigated the impact of VCS in protecting biodiversity and people dependent on nature.Compiled from authors with expertise in the certification field, Policy Matters was released on Sept. 4 during the IUCN World Conservation Congress. The congress is held once every four years.

“After decades of developing certification schemes to protect the environment and ensure better conditions for producers, these standards still lack a comprehensive framework that takes account of biodiversity and the cultural diversity of the people who most depend on these resources,” said Diana Shand, co-coordinator of the Policy Matters editorial team in a statement. Shand also chairs the IUCN’s Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP)’s Theme on Social and Accountability of the Private Sector.

The study was led by Pavel Castka, a CEESP member from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and Danna Leaman, a member of the Plant Conservation Sub-Committee of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and co-chair of its Medicinal Plants Specialist Group.

Chief among topics tackled by experts were the efficacy of biodiversity conservation, how to increase production, and challenges in implementing certification.

“The research finds that certification in some sectors, like the Forest Stewardship Council or the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, is doing the work that governments are failing to do in regards to setting sustainability standards,” said Castka in a statement.  He added that areas of lacking government regulations and aspirations could be helped with certifications. But he warned that certification standards “should not be the lone drivers of societal goals for protection of biodiversity and human livelihoods.”

Examples of what’s working and not working in different countries also played a large role in the study. Researchers found that although VCS for biodiversity conservation has potential, the actual impact can be negative.

For instance, the Forest Improvement Act in Nova Scotia, Canada aimed to tackle mature forest logging. The Act was dubbed a form of greenwashing after failing to understand the influence of regional logging and pulp companies and the definition of a ‘mature forest’. There was also Costa Rica’s Payment for Ecosystem Services which ultimately did not contribute to slowing deforestation.

The report cites stakeholder conflicts as a factor that weakens standards for things such as eco-labeling for marine and agricultural commodities and environmental corporate responsibility.

Ultimately, VCS has thus far failed to bridge the gap between economic and conservation priorities. VCS systems have been unsuccessful in prioritizing conservation over for-profit resource extraction. In addition, there has been a demonstrated inability to set up biodiversity conservation guidelines and a lack of sufficient monitoring standards.

The report authors conclude that can be changed.

“IUCN believes that voluntary certification can be an effective tool to complement regulatory frameworks and can help hold businesses accountable in meeting sustainability standards,” said Gerard Bos, Director of the Business and Biodiversity Programme, in a statement. “However, we need to have a better understanding of the conditions that make these voluntary systems effective.”

Several examples of successful VCS systems established from a strong cooperation between stakeholders are highlighted in the report. These partnerships resulted in economic payoffs and clear standards of biodiversity conservation that were implemented at the local level.

Some of the best examples are REDD+ in developing countries as payment for economic services and eco-labeling schemes on Colombian coffee. The Marine Stewardship Council fisheries certification program for Baja Californian lobster in Mexico and Fogo Island shrimp in Canada has also made progress.

Researchers also found that grassroots stakeholders are sometimes willing to contribute significantly. Some local communities are willing to pay to conserve charismatic species and to cover conservation costs.

For instance, certification on Baja California lobster and Fogo Island shrimp are not endangered, but sustainable catch techniques such as limited catch sizes have helped their numbers grow significantly.

A common denominator for success points to harmony between conservation and economic goals. Clear and easy methods to monitor biodiversity conservation targets, typically at a species level, are also important.

Rainforest Alliance/Sustainable Agriculture Network certified Colombian coffee has clear guidelines on biodiversity-friendly practices at the species level. The practice is believed to be responsible for a higher native biodiversity than on uncertified farms.

In terms of government roles, nations such as Indonesia, Cameroon and Peru have stepped up to address biodiversity conservation and human livelihoods that are dependent on forests. Forest Stewardship Council certification has had an impact on some social and environmental performances, including increased cooperation in Peru and addressing indifference in Cameroon.

However, certification is not the only tool to improve environmental and social sustainability. Researchers note that it should be complemented with other standard public policies to promote sustainable forest management principles.

Overall, the most recent edition of Policy Maters underscores the need for more relationship building between voluntary certification schemes and public institutions.

“Policy makers, certification schemes, companies, academics and other stakeholders must continue to work together to get the most out of certification,” said Castka.

References

Castka, Pavel and Leaman, Danna J. 2016. Certification and biodiversity: how voluntary certification standards impact biodiversity and human livelihoods. IUCN Policy Matters. https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/46325

 

Article published by Genevieve Belmaker on 2016-09-20.

Published at Mongabay.com

This is a warning for companies. It is a lot cheaper to prevent forest fires every year than have to pay lawyers or Rp 1.07 trillion of fine.

Indonesia’s Court Fined Company with 80 Million Dollars on Forest Fires Case

Fidelis E. Satriastanti

South Jakarta District Court granted Ministry of Environment and Forestry’s lawsuit against PT National Sago Prima (PT NSP) for a total of Rp 1.07 trillion (US$ 81 million) making it the largest winning in a forest fire case, said a senior official, in Jakarta, on Friday (12/8).

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry, under Directorate General of Law Enforcement, filed a civil lawsuit against the company in October 2015 for land clearing with burning on 3,000 hectares in Kepulauan Meranti district of Riau.

Rasio Ridho Sani, director general of law enforcement, said that the winning was the first largest compensation in a forest fire case.

IMG-20160812-WA0009
DirGen of Law Enforcement, Rasio Ridho Sani, gave a presser on the winning. (Photo by Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Aug 2016). 

“We appreciate the judges’ decision which brings justice to those people who have suffered the impacts of forest fires,” said Sani adding that the ministry was ready to answer the appeal of the company on the decision.

The judges have granted nearly all charges made by the ministry such as the company had to pay Rp 319,168,422,500 (US$24 million) for compensation and Rp 735 billion (US$ 56 million) for restoration.

In addition, if the verdict is final and legally binding (in kracht) but the company had failed to pay the fine there will be Rp 50 million (US$ 3816) per day.

“The judges did not granted only one demand from us which is the company should have paid the money for restoration without waiting further legal process. The court rejected the petition on the basis that the legal process is still going on,” said Patra M. Zen, lawyer of the ministry.

Nevertheless, Zen said that the victory was legal assurance that the justice system in Indonesia had used strict liability to deal with forest fires cases.

“It means that judges agreed that companies which obtained permits in forestry sector are responsible to tackle forest fires in their concession areas,” he said. “It sends strong message that companies better handling fires in their areas or ended up paying Rp 1.07 trillion.”

The court found that PT NSP had failed to tackle forest fires in concession areas which have become embedded responsibilities, such as lack of fire monitoring towers, proper fire extinguishers, and no warning boards.

The company also failed compliance assessment conducted by Presidential Unit of Development Monitoring and Oversight (UKP4), under President SBY’s administration, and had ordered to improve its performance.

Bambang Hero Saharjo, one of the expert, said that they had counted the cost under the 2014 Environment Ministerial Regulation.

“The loss is counted from several aspects, such as ecological losses of peatlands, erosion, biodiversity loss, and carbon released,” said the professor of forestry of Bogor Agricultural Institute.

Furthermore, he said that scientific based was not being more appreciated in dealing with forest fires cases compare in the past where companies rarely got fine in trillions of rupiah.

“We were laughed at when we came up with the number. But, that’s the fact and it’s based on the regulation,” he said hoping that other cases would follow suit.  END.

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