Cempaka Nature, Agriculture and Environment

Semeru on alert

2009-04-10T20:43:00.002+07:00

The Jakarta Post | Fri, 04/10/2009 6:11 PM

Two motorcycle riders in Lumajang, East Java, observe Mount Semeru from a distance. The Center for Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation has announced that the frequency of lava eruptions at the crater have been decreasing, a sign of lava flow clogging that could lead to a violent eruption. (Antara/Sucipto)

Indonesia self-sufficient in corn: agriculture ministry

2009-04-09T20:29:00.001+07:00

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Agriculture Ministry said Indonesia has succeeded in achieving self-sufficiency in corn as domestic production has reached 90 percent of domestic demand.

"We have become self-sufficient in corn and have also begun exporting the product. However, it does not mean that imports have stopped. But domestic production now meets 90 percent of national demand. In 2008 we also exported corn," the ministry`s director general of food crops, Sutarto Alimoeso, said here on Wednesday.

In 2008 Indonesia imported 170,000 tons of corn and exported 150,000 tons.

He said exports could still increase. Fir this year the production target had been set at around 18 million tons of which one million tons would be exported.

The agriculture ministry was expecting domestic corn production to increase 14 percent this year.

National corn production in 2008 rose more than 22 percent from 16.3 million tons in the previous year.

He said the corn plantation area was increasing while productivity was also rising following the use of superior seeds.

Alimoeso said the government was subsidizing seed prices for rice, corn and bean farmers. Besides seed subsidy the government was also helping farmers to get superior seeds and seeds taken from national reserves.

For 2009, the agriculture ministry had allocated a corn seed subsidy for producing 4,266 tons of corn on an area of 225,534 hectares.

Seed assistance taken from national seed supply for the farmers will reach 5,595 tons for an area of 353,000 hectares. Direct top seed assistance totaling 7,610 tons meanwhile is allocated for an area of 507,333 hectares.

Indonesian palm oil industry takes step towards sustainability

2009-04-07T21:34:00.003+07:00

WWF-Canon / Alain COMPOST, 07 Apr 2009

Jakarta, Indonesia: A major Indonesian plantation company has become the country’s first certified maker of sustainable palm oil as WWF simultaneously collaborated with the Indonesian Department of Agriculture and others to hold a first-time regional training workshop for small producers.

Musim Mas Group Plantations, is the first company in Indonesia to demonstrate that some of its plantations comply with the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Principles and Criteria, a set of standards that helps ensure that palm oil is produced in a socially and environmentally responsible way. Indonesia is the world’s biggest producer of palm oil.

The RSPO brings together oil palm growers, oil processors, food companies, retailers, NGOs and investors to help ensure that no rainforest areas are sacrificed for new oil palm plantations, that all plantations minimize their environmental impacts and that basic rights of local peoples and plantation workers are fully respected.

“Musim Mas hopes that its certification will encourage more Indonesian companies to follow suit,” said Liantong Gan, head of Musim Mas’ sustainability department.

Musim Mas’ certification underscores the progress that WWF, and others, have made in efforts to increase the number of palm oil producers that are operating sustainably.

WWF works to ensure that oil palm expansion does not come at the expense of forests by promoting its expansion onto degraded lands. It is also helping to develop guidance for the small holders representing 40 per cent of Indonesia’s palm oil growers.

"WWF is pleased to see progress in Indonesia, but there is much work to be done before sustainable palm oil can be a mainstream reality," said Ian Kosasih, Director of the Forest Programme at WWF Indonesia.

"WWF Indonesia will continue to cooperate with stakeholders to build the capacity of farmers to implement the RSPO guidelines, promote the use of idle or degraded land for oil palm expansion, and put pressure on those companies that persist in converting natural forest for oil palm expansion," Kosasih said.

WWF helped organize the training for 21 training representatives from small Indonesian palm oil plantations from West Sumatra, Riau, South Sumatra, Jambi, and West of Kalimantan.

WWF held the training in collaboration with the Indonesian Smallholders Working Group, the Department of Agriculture, the RSPO Indonesia Liaison Office, Sawit Watch, and various certification bodies. The training stemmed from a memorandum of understanding signed on Feb. 17 between the RSPO and the Indonesian Department of Agriculture.

The objective was to educate trainers on the threats of oil palm plantations to the region’s forests and local species, to motivate smallholders to comply with the RSPO P & C, and to provide practical ways smallholders can comply with these sustainability criteria, including mitigating the wildlife human conflict that often occurs happens in oil palm plantations.

In addition, a syllabus and training modules were developed so that the representatives could take them back to their operations for educational purposes.

The Indonesian Smallholders Working Group is planning to hold further trainings in the five provinces represented at the March training, and follow them up with audits.

As a founding member of the RSPO, WWF has worked since 2002 with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that the RSPO standards contain robust social and environmental criteria, including a prohibition on the conversion of high conservation value (HCV) areas.

The workshop and Musim Mas’ certification come only months after the first shipment of RSPO certified sustainable palm oil arrived in Europe from southeast Asia.

Several European companies, including Unilever, Sainsbury’s and Albert Heijn, have already made strong public commitments to buy certified sustainable palm oil.

The next RSPO Roundtable meeting and the 6th General Assembly of RSPO members will be held in November 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Earthquakes rock North Sulawesi, West Papua on Saturday

2009-04-05T11:40:00.011+07:00

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Earthquakes rocked North Sulawesi and West Papua on Saturday, but did not trigger any tsunami, according to the National Meteorological and Geophysics Office here Saturday.

North Sulawesi was hit by a 6.5-magnitude temblor on Saturday at 2.31 am Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The quake`s epicenter was located at 4.99 degrees northern latitude and 127.04 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 10 km below sea level, around 117 Km northeast of Melonguane, North Sulawesi.

West Papua was jolted by a 5.1-magnitude temblor at 1.09 pm Western Indonesian Time (WIB). The quake`s epicenter was located at 0.73 degrees southern latitude and 133.30 degrees eastern longitude, at a depth of 101 km, around 86 Km northwest of Manokwari town, West Papua.

On Friday (April 3), Palu, Central Sulawesi Province, was jolted by two consecutive earthquakes in the wee hours, causing a number of local residents to panic and wonder about the temblors` magnitudes.

The first earthquake was 4.4 on the Richter scale and the second was 4.9 on the Richter scale.

Indonesia, the world`s largest archipelago, sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," the edge of a tectonic plate prone to seismic upheaval.

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Govt should intervene against wildlife poaching: NGO

2009-04-02T20:12:00.002+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 04/02/2009 7:34 PM

An environmental non-governmental organization (NGO) has on Thursday called for the government to intervene in the prevention of further wildlife poaching in Sumatra following the death of two female elephants at an elephant conservation center in Bengkulu last week.

"Elephant and tiger poaching is increasing and the death of the female elephants wasn't the first. At least seven others were killed at the conservation park between 2004 and 2007," representative of wildlife protection NGO ProFauna Radius Nursidi said.

He added that the perpetrators were never caught nor processed.

Apart from endangered elephants, the second most poached wildlife animal is the Sumatran tiger.

A survey conducted by ProFauna in March this year revealed 12 tiger snares were found around a conservation park in Bengkulu.

One of these snare had successfully trapped a Bornean leopard in 2007.

The authorities were informed of the perpetrator but no legal recourse was taken.

“The police need to fully enforce the law on wildlife crime. Without law enforcement, elephant and tiger poaching in Bengkulu will persist”, Nursidi argued.

Under the law, poaching and trading protected species is against the law and offenders are liable to a maximum of five years in jail and a Rp 100 millions (10,000 USD) fine. (amr)

2 rare elephants shot dead in Indonesian jungles

2009-04-01T20:44:00.002+07:00

Google/AP

By IRWAN FIRDAUS

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Two Sumatran elephants were found dead with gunshots to the head in a protected forest in western Indonesia, a conservationist said Tuesday.

Park rangers have been riding the animals for weeks in the Kerinci National Park and surrounding areas to prevent entry by illegal loggers, who have been clearing jungles at an alarming rate to make way for palm oil and other commercial plantations.

Though provincial conservation chief Andi Basrul refused to speculate on a motive for the shootings, he said they appeared to have been carried out by professional poachers.

Basrul said the Sumatran elephants were both 20-year-old females. Rangers found their bodies on March 24, hours after they were used for a patrol and several hundred yards (meters) from their camp.

Conservationists believe there are less that 3,000 Sumatran elephants remaining in the wild.

"It is a big blow to our efforts to protect these endangered animals," Basrul said.

The habitats of Sumatran elephants are quickly shrinking due to illegal logging and land clearing. That has led, increasingly, to clashes with humans, often because the starving animals stray into villages and destroy crops in their search for food.

An investigation will be carried out into the latest attack in Bengkulu province on Sumatra island, said Yatim Suyatmo, a police spokesman.

Riau police confiscate 200 tons of illegal logs

2009-04-01T19:21:00.005+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 04/01/2009 10:32 AM

Jungle operation: Sr. Comr. Zainal Paliwang, head of Riau Water Police Directorate (left) leads illegal logging raid operation in Tohor River kanals in Tebing Tinggi, Meranti district in Riau, on Tuesday. Antara/FB Anggoro

Riau Water Police have confiscated 200 tons of illegal logs, allegedly cut down from Meranti and Bengkalis regencies areas, during a two-day raid operations.

Sr. Comr. Zainal Paliwang, head of Riau Water Police Directorate, told Antara that they have named and arrest two people as suspects.

“We received a tip-off from the local resident and we later begun an investigation that lasted three weeks. The logs were found at four different locations,” he said.

On Monday, the police confiscated eight tons of logs from a location on the banks of Tanjung Sari river in Tanjung Samak district in Bengkalis. They also arrested two men, Yamin, 39, and Edo Tampubolon, 68, who were on a tug boat to deliver logs to Tanjung Balai Karimun in Riau Islands.

The rest of the logs were confiscated from three locations in Tohor River banks in Tebing Tinggi district in Meranti.

Zainal said the police were to continue their investigation to catch illegal loggers in the areas. (dre)

Whirlwind hits Central Jakarta, tower collapses

2009-03-31T19:59:00.001+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 03/31/2009 7:21 PM

A tornado had reportedly hit several areas in Central Jakarta Tuesday evening, kompas.com reported.

Petojo and Cideng were among the areas hit by the whirlwind that occurred within a ten minute time frame.

According to residents, house rooftops, tree branches, a billboard and a tower belonging to the City Transportation Agency were blown away.

Central Jakarta mayor Sylviana Murni is said to have inspected the damages.

"I've just toured the area to observe the situation at hand," Murni said. (amr)

Vietnam wood product export falls sharply in Q1

2009-03-31T19:53:00.002+07:00

Hanoi (ANTARA News/Asia Pulse) -- The global economic crisis has reduced demand for wood products, according to an official from the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VFA).

Association statistics show the wood processing industry had a total export turnover of about US$500 million during the first three months of this year, down 22.9 per cent on a year-on-year basis because many main partners had reduced their imports.

Last year, firms received US$2.8 billion for wood products, which was 13.4 per cent higher than in 2007, but in the first two months of this year, the value fell 60 per cent to US$330 million compared with the same period last year, said VFA Deputy Chairman, Nguyen Ton Quyen.

Indonesian forests suffering from `chronic ailment`: minister

2009-03-31T19:41:00.002+07:00

Muaro Bungo, Jambi (ANTARA News) - Forestry Minister MS Kaban said that Indonesian forests were experiencing a chronic `ailment` or serious damage which needed a long time to cure.

"The chronic disease infected the forests as a result of mismanagement in the past which has now affected forest industries and timber companies," the minister said when inaugurating a rural forest project in Lubuk Beringin hamlet, Bungo district, here on Monday.

Forests were damaged as the result of weak government control and mismanagement by forest concessionaires (HPH), timber estates (HTI) and licensed plantations (HGU), he said.

The bankruptcy of forest industries has cut the state`s foreign exchange earning and caused forest theft or illegal logging, the minister said.

In the past, the biggest earner of the country`s foreign exchange was the forestry sector while the oil and gas came only in the second list.

But the past exploitation has adversely caused destruction of our forest now and created different kinds of natural disasters such as floods and drought.

In the new order government era, the conditions of Indonesia`s natural resources were good, such as those of forest, mining and marine resources, which all contributed significant incomes to the state, he said.

He said that over the past three years the government had been launching a forest plantation movement. Through the movement, a total of 1.9 million trees had been planted.

100 still missing in Situ Gintung dam burst tragedy

2009-03-29T16:04:00.003+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 03/29/2009 2:29 PM

Recovering remains: Indonesian soldiers search for victims after a dam burst in Jakarta on Sunday. Attention shifted to caring for homeless and hungry survivors after a dam burst outside the Indonesian capital, sending a wall of water crashing into homes and killing at least 91 people. More than 100 others are still missing, but hope dimmed Sunday of finding them alive. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)

An emergency search and rescue team (UMJ) combing the Situ Gintung area has so far found 96 fatalities, while 100 residents remain missing, tempointeraktif.com reported on Sunday.

"The count is based on the reports of local residents and also neighborhood coordination. Many of the bodies are not clear which neighborhood unit they belong to," UMJ coordinator Rahmat Salam said.

More than 500 people have volunteered to help evacuate victims in the aftermath of the deadly collapse of the Situ Gintung sluice gate and embankment in Cireundeu, Tangerang.

The team comprises members of the national Search and Rescue (SAR), BNPN, Gegana bomb squad, the Health Agency, the Indonesian Red Cross, the police, college students and other members of the public.

The dam burst, which was triggered by heavy torrential rains on Friday evening, had flatted 319 homes, schools and a university campus.

More than 500 residents became homeless and were staying at temporary shelters erected at several locations around the disaster area. (amr)

Three volcanoes on second level alert status

2009-03-27T15:54:00.003+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 03/27/2009 2:48 PM

The Bandung-based Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center has raised the status of Semeru volcano in Central Java, to second highest level alert, bringing the total number of volcanoes on the same alert level to three.

Agus Budianto, a top official at the governmental office, said Friday that Semeru was the latest volcano to increase its acitivity.

Previously the office had raised Karangetang volcano in North Sulawesi and Ibu volcano in North Maluku since December and April last year, respectively.

Agus said that currently there are 68 active volcanoes, out of a total of 129 volcanoes, in Indonesia.

Out of the 68 volcanoes, 14, including Dempo in South Sumatra, Anak Krakatau in Sunda Strait, and Bromo in East Java, are on first level alert status – the lowest of the three level statuses.

The office warns the people living near Semeru volcano to remain cautious of volcano disaster. (dre)

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Tangerang Dam Burst Kills at Least 28

2009-03-27T12:55:00.031+07:00

The Jakarta Globe, March 27, 2009

A rescuer searches for flood victims. (Dadang Tri, Reuters)

In pictures: Jakarta dam burst (BBC)

Special Section (JG)

More Photos (NYT)

A dam on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, burst on Friday, killing 28 people and flooding hundreds of houses nearby, officials said.

Police said that they were still searching the area for more casualties. Metro TV showed rescuers wading up to their chests in floodwater.

"The break down of Situ Gintung dam has claimed 28 lives, and seven houses were swept away," Chrysnanda Dwilaksana, a spokesman for the Jakarta police, said in a telephone text message.

The dam, which was used to retain water in Lake Situ Gintung in Tangerang District, southwest of Jakarta, broke early on Friday morning. There had been heavy rain in the area but so far the cause of the accident is not known.

"Hundreds of houses are flooded, tens of houses damaged, it was like a small tsunami," said Rustam Pakaya, an official at the health ministry.

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A women safe his child from floods in Pondok Pinang, Tangerang, Banten province, Friday (Mar 27). Dike of Gintung reservoir was broken down cause some citizen settlements inundated and 18 peoples death. (ANTARA photo/Paramayuda)

A rescuer searches for flood victims after a dam burst on the outskirts of Jakarta in Indonesia. (Reuters/Dadang Tri)

Dam burst death toll raises to 20

2009-03-27T10:56:00.004+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 03/27/2009 10:16 AM

A dam burst in Cirendeu, Ciputat, South Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta, before dawn Friday, sending a flash flood into a crowded residential neighborhood, submerging hundreds of houses and killing at least 20 people, officials said.

A wave of water crashed into around 400 homes in the industrial area of Tangerang at around 2.00 a.m., said Health Ministry Crisis Center chief Rustam Pakaya. Floodwaters were up to 2.5 meters deep is some areas, police and witnesses said.

Pakaya said 20 bodies had been recovered by rescue teams, but that he expected the death toll to climb because residents were sleeping when the disaster happened. At least a dozen others were reportedly missing.

Antara news agency reporte that search and rescue officers were still working to rescue residents being trapped in their submerged houses. The survivors were evacuated to higher grounds at the nearby Muhammadiyah University of Jakarta.

It was unclear what caused the failure of the 10-meter-high dam, which was holding back around 2 million cubic meters of water at the Pesanggrahan river, according to South Jakarta Police chief Makmur Simbolon.

A rescue worker identified only as Toni, told El Shinta radio another 19 people were being treated at nearby hospitals.

"A flash flood came suddenly and was horrifying," said Seto Mulyadi, whose car was washed nearly 300 feet (100 meters) from his driveway into a public park, as quoted by The Associated Press. "My house in a dreadful mess ... Thank God my family is safe."

Mulyadi said he heard a siren sound at the dam before the water smashed out all the windows and doors and inundated his home in 2.5 meters of water. He said his wife and four children were all sleep upstairs and were unharmed. (dre)

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New species found in Papua-New Guinea

2009-03-26T12:30:00.003+07:00

Reuters, Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:42am EDT

A Litoria frog, which uses a loud ringing song to call for a mate, was discovered in a rainforest during a Conservation International (CI) led Rapid Assessment Program (RAP) expedition of Papua New Guinea's highlands wilderness in 2008 is pictured in this undated handout photo. REUTERS/Steve Richards/Conservation International/Handout

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jumping spiders, a striped gecko and a chirping frog are among more than 50 new species discovered in Papua-New Guinea, the environmental group Conservation International reported on Tuesday.

The creatures were found during an expedition in July and August in Papua-New Guinea's highlands wilderness, the group said in a statement.

A total of 50 spider species, two plants, three frogs and one gecko found on the expedition are believed to be new to science.

The three frogs include a tiny brown frog with a sharp chirping call, a bright green tree frog with big eyes and a torrent-dwelling frog that has a loud ringing call.

Surabaya zoo welcomes 32 newborn Komodo dragons

2009-03-23T20:16:00.007+07:00

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 03/23/2009 3:18 PM

Baby komodo dragons are seen inside a terrarium at Surabaya Zoo in Surabaya, Monday. All the 32 newborn Komodo dragons are hatched in the last two weeks in the most successful komodo breeding year ever at the zoo. (AP/Trisnadi)

An East Java zoo is welcoming the arrival of 32 newborn Komodo dragons.

Surabaya Zoo spokesman Agus Pangkat says the endangered lizards - believed to number less than 4,000 in the wild - all hatched in the last two weeks. He says 14 eggs are still under observation.

He is calling it the Komodo's most successful breeding year ever at the zoo.

He said Monday the giant reptiles have been kept at the zoo since the early 1980s, but the newborns brought their total from 34 to 66.

Komodo dragons can grow up to 10 feet long (three meters) and weigh as much as 150 pounds (70 kilograms). They have a bite that can be deadly and can only be found in the wild on the eastern Indonesian islands of Komodo, Padar and Rinca.

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Let’s save our tigers; Leave them in the forests

2009-03-22T21:08:00.002+07:00

The Star Online, Malaysia , 22 March 2009

The Star says

JUST scrap this inept idea. There are other ways of bringing the roar back to Penang besides creating a tiger park.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s proposal to create such a park on 40ha of land owned by the Penang Municipal Council in Relau certainly doesn’t fit the description of an eco-tourism project.

The plan has drawn flak from wildlife experts, conservationists and locals. They know better that the rightful place for the majestic animal is in our shrinking forests, not in an artificial habitat near highly populated urban areas.

It has been the CM’s propensity to initiate slogans with the acronym of CAT – Competency, Accountability and Transparency, Central Area Transit, and Career Assistance & Training. This big cat, however, should be best left out of ideas to boost the state’s tourism.

Perhaps, the CM should instead think FAST – Food, Arts, Sea and Traditions – areas in which Penang has enough attractions that can be developed further.

The Pearl of the Orient has already won its culinary credentials. It is a gastronomic destination among top-market travellers, tour groups and back-backers besides domestic tourists hooked on its delectable hawker fare.

Penang is also rich in the arts, with a wide range of museums, galleries, libraries, exhibition halls and colourful performances, including its indigenous boria.

Besides the island’s scenic beaches of Tanjung Bungah, Batu Ferringhi and Teluk Bahang, which can use some cleaning-up, easier access should be provided to better ones located along the secluded northwestern coast.

The island’s unique traditions and rich multi-cultural heritage are certainly big draws now that Georgetown has been given a huge tourism advantage through its listing as a World Heritage Site together with Malacca.

But if eco-tourism is indeed the focus, the CM should look at existing areas to improve and promote, like the bio-diversity rich Pantai Aceh National Park, Pulau Jerejak or even Penang Hill.

The idea of confining endangered wild animals in enclosures is passe and regarded as another wanton exploitation of wildlife.

Unlike conservation forest reserves where free roaming animals are kept after being captured for their protection, tiger parks, like the one being planned in Penang, are grossly inappropriate for a species whose natural habitat covers a huge range.

So let’s leave our tigers in the forest.

Wild elephants in Bengkulu under threat of extinction

2009-03-21T14:32:00.004+07:00

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - Wild elephants in Bengkulu province are under threat of extinction because illegal loggers and land squatters have begun to operate in areas close to the Seblat Elephant Training Center in North Bengkulu district, a local nature conservation official said.

If the illegal activities were not stopped soon, the forest corridor linking the Elephant Training Center with the Kerinci Seblat National Park would be breached and the habitat of elephants under the center`s care destroyed, Andi Basral, head of Bengkulu`s Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), said on Friday through Aswan Bangun, coordinator of the Seblat Elephants Training Center.

"We can do little to overcome the illegal activities because of lack of support from the local law-enforcing agencies," Bangun said.

The BKSDA had the authority to act against the illegal loggers and squatters but the agency`s personnel were limited in number and could therefore not achieve much, he added.

Bangun said about 1,500 heactares of the 6,865-hectare forest-covered zone belonging to the Seblat Elephant Training Center were now in seriously damaged condition because of the illegal activities.

The Seblat Elephant Training Center could only be saved if the local administration, including law-enforcing agencies, took part in efforts to protect the center and the elephants` habitat, Bangun said.

In the past, he said, he had asked for and received assistance from the local forestry service and police to drive away the illegal loggers and squatters but it was only temporary.

"When they (illegal loggers and squatters) get wind of an imminent joint operation against them, they cease their activities but as soon as the officers have gone, they are at it again," he said.

If the illegal activities were not halted, the elephants` habitat would gradually disappear and leave the protected animals nowhere to live.

Bangun said he believed 85 percent of Bengkulu`s wild elephant population was living outside the center and the Kerinci Seblat National Park but did not know exactly how many wild elephants there were in Bengkulu province.

Pink elephant is caught on camera

2009-03-20T23:29:00.004+07:00

By Rebecca Morelle, Science reporter, BBC News

The little pink calf was spotted in amongst an 80-strong elephant herd

A pink baby elephant has been caught on camera in Botswana.

A wildlife cameraman took pictures of the calf when he spotted it among a herd of about 80 elephants in the Okavango Delta.

Experts believe it is probably an albino, which is an extremely rare phenomenon in African elephants.

They are unsure of its chances of long-term survival - the blazing African sunlight may cause blindness and skin problems for the calf.

Mike Holding, who spotted the baby while filming for a BBC wildlife programme, said: "We only saw it for a couple of minutes as the herd crossed the river.

The baby elephant seems to be sheltering under its mother to protect itself from the sun

"This was a really exciting moment for everyone in camp. We knew it was a rare sighting - no-one could believe their eyes."

Documented evidence

Albino elephants are not usually white, but instead they have more of a reddish-brown or pink hue.

While albinism is thought to be fairly common in Asian elephants, it is much less common in the larger African species.

Ecologist Dr Mike Chase, who runs conservation charity Elephants Without Borders, said: "I have only come across three references to albino calves, which have occurred in Kruger National Park in South Africa.

"This is probably the first documented sighting of an albino elephant in northern Botswana.

"We have been studying elephants in the region for nearly 10 years now, and this is the first documented evidence of an albino calf that I have come across."

He said that the condition might make it difficult for the calf to survive into adulthood.

"What happens to these young albino calves remains a mystery," said Dr Chase.

"Surviving this very rare phenomenon is very difficult in the harsh African bush. The glaring sun may cause blindness and skin problems."

However, he told BBC News that there might be a ray of hope for the pink calf as it already seemed to be learning to adapt to its condition.

Dr Chase explained: "Because this elephant calf was sighted in the Okavango Delta, he may have a greater chance of survival. He can seek refuge under the large trees and cake himself in a thick mud, which will protect him from the Sun.

"Already the two-to-three-month-old calf seems to be walking in the shade of its mother.

"This behaviour suggests it is aware of its susceptibility to the harsh African sun, and adapted a unique behaviour to improve its chances of survival."

He added: "I have learned that elephants are highly adaptable, intelligent and masters of survival."

Japanese Investors Eye Purbalingga

2009-03-20T22:50:00.001+07:00

Friday, 20 March, 2009 | 17:28 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Purbalingga: A number of Japanese investors intend to invest in food production in Purbalingga regency. “At least 171 Jpanese companies are interested in investing in crystal coconut sugar produced by Purbalingga,” said Djoko Triwinarso, Purbalingga Secretariat spokesperson, yesterday.

Two investors, Pooki Teading Co and Asaki Yushi Koogyo, said they were ready to build livestock feed and food industries. However, they submitted some requirements, such as open price standards, quality and continuity.

Purbalingga regent, Triyono Budi Sasongko, said he would support the interest of the Japanese investors. “Beside capital investment, we also hope for a process of technology transfer,” he said.

ARIS ANDRIANTO

Indonesia's Sinar Mas defends palm oil expansion

2009-03-20T22:38:00.002+07:00

By Aloysius Bhui, Reuters, Fri Mar 20, 2009 6:31am EDT

JAKARTA, March 20 (Reuters) - Sinar Mas Group, one of Indonesia's top palm oil growers, denied on Friday accusations that its activities were damaging the environment and said it would stick to plans to expand its plantations.

Greenpeace activists have targeted Sinar Mas in a recent campaign for contributing to deforestation in Indonesia, which is blamed as a key source greenhouse gas emissions in the Southeast Asian country.

"We should have been arrested if we had ever been involved in deforestation," Gandi Sulistiyanto, a managing director of Sinar Mas Group, told Reuters.

He said the company only opened up new plantations in degraded land that had been farmed on or previously logged and not rainforest.

Sinar Mas Group owns publicly-listed PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources Tbk (SMART) (SMAR.JK), which runs its palm oil business, and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), which operates the pulp and paper business.

Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia forest campaigner, accused Sinar Mas of destroying forest areas.

"We are facing the greatest threat to humanity -- climate chaos, yet still companies like Sinar Mas can continue to destroy forests and peatlands, rather than protecting them for future generations," Maitar said in a statement.

As of the end of September, SMART managed 127,124 hectares (314,100 acres) of planted oil palm, according to the company.

It produced 410,314 tonnes of crude palm oil in January-September last year, against 509,095 tonnes in all of 2007. [ID:nJAK279457]

The group has earmarked a $100 million palm expansion this year and is not planning to pull back the plan.

"We are still a growing company. We (Indonesia) are still competing with Malaysia to become the world's top producer of palm oil. So we must keep planting," Sulistiyanto said.

He said the current financial crisis may slow down the expansion but would not stop the firm from planting in new areas.

According to Greenpeace, Sinar Mas has 200,000 hectares of unplanted concessions in rainforest in Indonesia and plans to acquire an additional 1.1 million hectares, mainly in Papua.

Sulistiyanto said the firm was currently focused on managing the 11,000 hectares that it has planted with oil palm in the past 14 years in Papua.

"Everybody is eyeing Papua because of its huge land but we haven't got any more concessions there," he said.

Indonesia, the world's top producer of palm oil -- used in a wide range of products, from soap to biodiesel -- is expected to produce 20.25 million tonnes of palm oil in 2009, up from 18.8 million in 2008, the industry association has estimated.

Annette Cotter, campaign manager for the forests campaign in Greenpeace Southeast Asia, has urged Indonesia palm growers to squeeze far higher yields from existing plantations rather than open up more land. [ID:nJAK381772]

Indonesia yields only about 2 tonnes per hectare from its plantations, or just a third of the 6 to 7 tonnes in countries such as Malaysia with better estate management practices. (Editing by Ed Davies and Valerie Lee)

Banyumas Builds Five Organic Fertilizer Plants

2009-03-19T21:11:00.000+07:00

Thursday, 19 March, 2009 | 18:46 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Purwokerto: The Banyumas regency government is encouraging farmers to make better use of organic fertilizers. The effort is being supported by building five organic fertilizer plants in five sub-districts of Banyumas. “With these plants, farmers should no longer burn or throw away their hay after harvesting,” said Banyumas regent, Mardjoko, yesterday. The government has allocated Rp40 million from its budget for this project.

Suwito, chief of the Setia Jaya Farmers Group from Adisana village said the fertilizer plants in his village can produce one ton of organic fertilizers a day. The group has 102 members, with a 30-hectare area of land to work on.

ARIS ANDRIANTO

Chamber of Commerce Demand Immediate Timber Facility

2009-03-18T20:38:00.001+07:00

Wednesday, 18 March, 2009 | 16:37 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Indonesia Chamber of Commerce urged the government to speed up the plan to build timber storage facilities in several provinces in the country, to boost furniture and handicraft industry.

Rahmat Gobel vice chairman of the chamber said, “the plan must be carried out quickly because it could reduce production cost and improve competitivenes.”

Rahmat said the storages planned for East Java, Central Jawa, Sulawesi, and Papua could eliminate illegal levies. While certification on stored timber would lower illegal logging accusations.

NIEKE INDRIETTA

Wanadri Plants Trees Around Yusril Hill

2009-03-16T21:53:00.001+07:00

Monday, 16 March, 2009 | 15:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Purwakarta: Jungle Trekkers and Mountain Hikers Association, Wanadri, is building the Yusril Hill monument at Buru Masigit Kareumbi Park in Kareumbi village, Cicalengka, Bandung, West Java.

“We will mark the monument by first planting trees,” said Fahrizal, representing Wanadri during the 40 day-memorial of the passing away of Tempo senior journalist, Yusril Djalinus, in Purwakarta, last Saturday.

The Yusril Hill monument, Fahrizal said, is to honor the late Yusril for his dedication in building and strengthening Wanadri. “He was a senior activist who contributed significantly to Wanadri,” Fahrizal said.

The next day, they planted mahogany trees in the 12,470 hectare area. The denuded hills are important as upstream areas and as sources of water which are fed by the Cimanuk and Citrarum rivers. The river separates Bandung and the downstream areas in West Java’s Northern Coast.

People donated Rp50.000 per tree. “The donation is valid for five years. If the tree dies, they will get a replacement,” Fahrizal said. Yusril passed away on February 2 at 10.30 at the Mitra Keluarga International Hospital, Jakarta. Yusril, a founder of Tempo magazine, was buried at Pasar Senen Cemetery in Purwakarta.

NANANG SUTISNA

Rp4,5 Billion To Anticipate Semeru Eruption

2009-03-16T21:50:00.000+07:00

Monday, 16 March, 2009 | 16:57 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Malang:The Malang Disaster Management Team has called on people around Mount Semeru to be on alert following the intensified volcanic activity. “An early warning will be publicly announced if there are indications that the volcano will erupt,” said the team’s chief, Rendra Kresna, yesterday.

According to Rendra, staff of the geological disaster volcanic and mitigation center continue to monitor the volcano from six surrounding sub-districts. The Malang regency government has allocated Rp4,5 billion for the operation, which can be cashed at anytime.

EKO WIDIANTO