Elephant attacking rural people in Aceh

Elephant's attack is a pretty old widerness problem in Aceh. During last three months, destroying vilager's plants and private company by this giant animal is occuring in northen, western, and southern part of Aceh. In Bireun district, the hometown of Irwandi Yusuf, the Governor, about 30 hectares and 20 cottage owned by farmers was destroyed. A rattan searcher was disposed to 10-meter deep ravine by an elephant. In Pantonlabu, of Aceh Utara, 4 rural house were ruined by 40 elephants. In Ranto Peurlak, hectares of oil palm, chocholat trees: In Subussalam, a 40 year-old woman was vanished by an elephant when she was working in a private company farm.In Jeuram, western part of aceh, some elephant ccame into village looking for food without annoying any villager. In Trumon, Southern part, they...

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REDD Tricky agreement between US-based Conservation NGOs and Polluting Industry

Reduction Emission from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) my be have a perfect spirit to combat global climate change, but I'm pesimist the REDD scheme is aplicable. Many opportunist are out there as reported by an independent site on 29 May 2009 (click tittle to check)Some US-based conservation NGO -American Electric Power, Conservation International, Duke Energy, Environmental Defense Fund, El Paso Corporation, National Wildlife Federation, Marriott International, Mercy Corps, Natural Resources Defense Council, PG&E Corporation, Sierra Club, Starbucks Coffee Company, The Nature Conservancy, Union of Concerned Scientists, The Walt Disney Company, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the Woods Hole Research Center- have signed agremeent with polluting industry, allowing the industry...

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Using recycling paper for printed book: a positive environmental friendly style

I browsed the Internet last night looking for environmental book. I really surprised by this book store. GREEN BY NAME n GREEN BY NATURE: All their recent books are printed on 75% - 100 recycled paper. The book covers are made of 50%–100% recycled materials. For the inks, they used vegetable-based inks. No overseas printing thus reducing carbon footprint.What we can learn from this online store regarding our future climate?For those from developed country should support this publisher. Residents from developing country need to follow this environmental friendly style because one day paper price will be more expensi...

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Newly National Decree on Indonesia’s REDD

Implementating REDD schemes have had some debatable controversial issue due to the absence of national legislation on REDD. Some issues are: Local government partnerships with overseas private company have resulted in low local profit sharing -30%, No legal position for local indigenous community around forest area, no chance for rural resident to participate in, unclear governmental role –central government vs provincial/local government, etc. Recently, at national legal policy, those issue have been relatively elaborated since the enactment of the Forestry Minister’s (MoF) decree number 30/2009, May 1st, 2009. The MoF decree on the Guideline on REDD Implementation have covered some crucial issues:1.Enables parties to implement REDD program in both state forest and private land (article...

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PROTECTED AREA Vs ROAD UPGRADING; A BATTLE OF STAKEHOLDERS; a portrait of environmental injustice

The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) of Aceh, District NGOs, Government agencies of Aceh, District student society of South Aceh, Bupati (Head) of South Aceh, South Aceh legislative members were sitting together to discuss the upgrading road plan which will ‘fragment’ the Tripa swamp, of South Aceh. The meeting was led by Governor and it was resulted in a physical fighting between student association member + local NGOs activities vs Walhi officer. It was a fight between a national NGO and local NGO. A fighting of local communities’ interest vs national NGO’s. In broader scale, fighting of international NGO, represented by the Walhi, vs local communities. It is a conflict of environmental protection vs regional development. Facts•The Bulusema was a village but now it becomes a small...

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MANGROVE REPLANTING IN POST-TSUNAMY SITES OF BANDA ACEH; A STUPID ERROR?

Those who have ever visited Banda Aceh during the emergency or reconstruction phase of Aceh must have personal memory for Aceh and its environment. Few days after the tsunami disaster, Banda Aceh was look like a ‘ghost city’: no de facto government, bodies were lying with rubies, no social and public services, economic activities stop ticking, citizens tried to escape in hurry.One month later, humanitarian groups around the world worked in Aceh supplying basic needs and building temporal resettlement. Some NGOs focusing in environmental rehabilitation assisted the community to rebuild their environment, especially mangrove rehabilitation. Around...

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