Sumatra’s Disappearing Forests = Climate Change…
Events that happen a world away have an effect on all of us regardless of where we live.
Note: Because palm oil growing and harvesting is one of the major reasons for deforestation Country Meadow has never, nor will ever use palm oil in our products.
Sumatra’s Forests Disappearing, Bad News for Climate Change, Tigers and Elephants
February 2008
A groundbreaking report by WWF and partners analyzes the local-to-global connections between deforestation, climate change and the rapid decline of tigers and elephants in the Riau Province, on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.
Peat forests and climate change
The Riau Province was chosen for the study because its vast peatlands are estimated to hold Southeast Asia’s largest store of carbon. Forest loss and degradation, along with peat decomposition and fires from this single province are responsible for average annual carbon emissions equivalent to 122 percent of the Netherlands’ total annual emissions.
Carbon emissions are a major driver of climate change, and these peat forests sit on such deep carbon reserves that saving them from deforestation would measurably reduce global carbon emissions.
Critical elephant and tiger habitat
Riau also contains some of the most critical habitat for Sumatran elephants and tigers. Over the last 25 years, the province has lost 65 percent of its forests – an area almost twice the size of New Jersey – resulting in an 84 percent decline in Sumatran elephant populations. In 2007, there were thought to be as few as 210 individuals, which means the Sumatran elephant may become locally extinct in just a few years.
During the same 25-year period, Sumatran tiger populations declined by 70 percent, to less than 200 individuals. This latest WWF study predicts that Riau will no longer have a viable tiger population unless the last remaining habitats are conserved and connected by wildlife corridors.
What is WWF doing?
WWF has been active in the Borneo and Sumatra region since the 1960s, and is committed to conserving its rich ecological heritage. To protect the Sumatran forests that are home to elephants, tigers, orangutans and rhinos, we are working with the Indonesian government and the pulp and palm oil industries – the biggest contributors to forest loss in central Sumatra.
WWF has already shared this report with the Indonesian government, and is hopeful that a broad-based partnership will prevent further deforestation and forest degradation of peatlands.
WWF and local partners are monitoring the environmental performance of global paper giants such as APP. We are also advocating that all APP customers and businesses cut ties with APP because of their continued irresponsible logging practices. Read more about recent disengagement from APP.
Through the Global Forest & Trade Networkv (GFTN), WWF is reminding GFTN members that participant companies must phase out “unwanted sources,” such as purchasing from companies that extract wood unsustainably. WWF is also asking financial institutions not to do business with companies that produce unsustainable wood products.
Sumatran Tigers
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Rebecca
Country Meadow Ltd.
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