Green Indonesia

Indonesia has possibly the most diverse biodiversity of any nation on Earth. Green Indonesia believes that this country has a duty to protect Nature’s environment for the benefit of all living creatures, both now and in the future. If we don’t, then we can expect our planet to be downgraded to that of Pluto, now a mere uninhabitable ’dwarf’. 

Green Indonesia is pleased to announce that Dave Jardine, well-known raconteur, author, quizmaster and twitcher will from henceforth be the volunteer co-ordinator of this category of this ‘café blog’. For the purposes of receiving news and views he will be known as Faunacator and can be emailed here.

Flora
Indonesia’s abundant flora has more than 30.000 flowering plant species, from the well-known begonias and busy lizzies to tropical exotica such as jacaranda, hibiscus and ginger. Some of the most striking are rhododendrons. They are found growing in large numbers in the montane forest, where the flaring colours of their flamboyant blooms splash across the scenery.

Thousands of orchid species have been discovered throughout the islands and many have still to be identified. The myriad of orchids are rich in species, varying in size from the largest of all orchids, the tiger orchid of Grammatophyllum Speciosum, to the tiny and leafless species of Taeniophyllum which is edible and taken by the local people as a medicine and is also used in handicrafts. The orchid species are usually epiphytic, in bright or pastel hues, striped and spotted, intricately formed, they are one of the country’s glories.

The rich flora of Indonesia includes many unique varieties of tropical plant life in various forms. Rafflesia Arnoldi, which is only found in certain parts of Sumatra, is the largest flower in the world. The parasitic plant grows on certain lianas but does not produce leaves. In the World Environment Day Ceremonial, in June 1995, President Soeharto declared three flowers as Indonesia’s national flowers: the melati (small white sweet smelling flower), the angrek bulan (moon orchid) and the Raflesia Arnoldi, named after Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and Dr. Arnold. People directly or indirectly use about 6,000 species of plants in the production of traditional herbal medicine or jamu. Flowers are indispensable in ceremonial, customary and traditional rites.

Fauna
Indonesia contains one of the world’s most remarkable geographical boundaries in its distribution of animals. This dates back to the glacial period when the sea level fell all over the world. During this period the islands of Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Bali on the Sunda Shelf were joined together with one another and the Asian mainland, but Irian Jaya, Aru and the Australian continent of the Sahul Shelf were separated. This early geographical separation explains why the tropical animal species of Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan do not exist in Irian Jaya. For the same reason, the kangoroo of Irian Jaya is missing in the other region. Maluku, Sulawesi, and the Lesser Sunda Islands, which lie between the Sunda and Sahul shelves, have a strikingly different fauna. Most of the eastern fauna do not exist in Sulawesi even though this island is close to Kalimantan, being just across the Makassar Strait.

One possible reason for this is that Kalimantan and Sulawesi might have been separated by a deep straight at one point, while the great depth of the Banda Sea kept them apart during the glacial period. Some scientists have attributed the phenomenon to three faunial lines. Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) wrote in his book, “The Malay Archipelago”, that Nusantara was separated into the Oriental ecological area and the Australian ecological area by a line (now known as the Wallace Line) that runs from the South to North, passing the Lombok and Makassar Straits and ending in the south eastern part of The Philippines.

The following are some of the headlines in this week’s Jakarta Post, whose archives seem to be locked away at present.

Nuclear power plants: Are they safe?
A nuclear expert from Semarang-based Diponegoro University, Muhammed Nur, said that although nuclear power was not a totally safe technology, Indonesian experts were ready to deal with the risks.

“We don’t have enough expertise to develop solar, hydro or wind power plants. But a nuclear power plant is something that has been wanted for since the Soeharto era,” he said.

Hang on. Not enough expertise to develop environmentally safe, renewable sources of energy, but enough nous to run a nuclear power plant - because they’ve wanted one for a while? He sounds like a kid in a toy shop ~ gimme, gimme.

And he continued.

“The decision to establish the reactors is a long-term result of the country’s extravagant use of power. We cannot change our wasteful energy lifestyle, so this is the risk we have to take.”

Too much hot air, Muhammed.

How nuclear plants produce energy
This simplistic article was accompanied by a flow diagram which a six year old could follow.

Haze thickens over Sumatra and Kalimantan
That’s more greedy bastards clearing out forests so they can make short-term profits from plantations.

Oh, and the haze is settling nicely over Malaysia and Singapore. If you help us douse the fires we’ll say ’sorry’ and promise not to do it again.
Until next year.

Dumping mud water in sea ‘harmful’.
Environmentalists warned Thursday that channeling treated water from hot toxic mud into East Java’s Madura Strait posed a threat of pollution that could hurt the local fishing industry.

The activists doubted the planned treatment would remove all the toxic chemicals from the mud. The sludge has piled up as high as five meters on about 200 hectares of land in Sidoarjo regency, a large industrial zone and the economic backbone of East Java province.

Riza Damanik, a marine and coastal campaigner with the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said he was doubtful that Lapindo Brantas Inc. would be able to process all the water contained in the seven million cubic meters of mud that has gushed out of its gas well since May 29.

The Sidoarjo mud flow has shown no signs of abating since it began two months ago. There is no sign either of the resignation of the Minister for Social Welfare, Abdurizal Bakrie, whose family’s company is responsible for the mess and the subsequent drowning of the homes of 10,000 people, umpteen factories, the off-on closure of a major toll road and a main line railway.

The ramifications of this environmental disaster, the result of yet another ‘human error’, will be the subject of a TV documentary or two and many books.

I wonder whose conglomerate will be chosen as the major building contractor for the first nuclear power plant here?

Oil spill destroys Philippine nature reserve

THE Philippines said this week it would ask Japan and Indonesia to help dam a huge oil spill that has polluted fishing grounds, dive spots and a national marine reserve around the central island of Guimaras.

The Filipino nation appeal to international help for the gravest environmental disaster that ever happened. Tthis is an environmental emergency as this could eradicate numerous endangered species of flora and fauna which are existent only in this part of the world. The extremely endangered Dugong is somewhat a cross between a sea cow and a dolphin. The shy migratory sea Turtles that reach as far as New Zealand and Australia nestle and hatch on the beach fronts of Guimaras only on extremely guarded moments. The numerous and undocumented birds that either are migratory or native to the island. The irreplaceable species of soft and hard corals abounding in groups as large as houses and numerous species of rare, colorful fishes, edible sea food many are a delight on your dinner tables, delicious lobsters and crabs and many many more. These are but a few that can become exterminated in a few days if the 2 million tons of sunken oil cargo is not contained.

We appeal to environmental organizers to help. We have appealed to as far as South Africa through SANCCOB. We appeal for more concerted efforts. We appeal for more volunteers in the technical and the environmental field. We appeal to raise funds that is hugely needed to mount a successful effort. Its been a week and no solid action can contain this tremendous catastrophe. For further inquiry and help contact 09287424437, Philippines. Contact e-mail at chromicutting @yahoo.com. Kindly inform your friends to tell others who might be able to help through volunteer work or technical expertise on oil spills and preservation and protection of birds, marine wildlife and animals. Please help contact environmental groups you know.

Son No 1 under Banda Sea ‘92

ReefBase
A vast database of information about the condition of reefs around Indonesia.

Underwater Photography from Bali
A community of underwater photographers in, er, Bali?

We all know that there will come a time when oil will be too scarce and the price too high to do normal everyday stuff. But what will that mean?

More buses
More trains
More walking
More bicycles (and bloggers !)

More carpooling
More types of fuel

Less stress
Less pollution
Fewer traffic jams

In Bali?
In Jakarta?

If you are a Fair Trader in Indonesia with a website, please contact us.

Pekerti
Merdeka Coffee
Sustain Sumatra
Global Exchange
Oxfam Indonesia
Yayasan Mitra Bali

Gayo Organic Coffee Farmers Association

The Gaya Organic Coffee Farmers Association (PPKGO) is an organic Fair Trade cooperative located in the Gayo Highlands of the Aceh province of Sumatra. Co-op members are small-scale coffee farmers dedicated to producing 100% shade-grown, organic coffee. In a region known for political conflict, the co-op has continued to produce, process, and export high quality Sumatran coffee. It has maintained relative peace and unity among an ethnically diverse membership comprised of Gayo, Javanese, Acehnese, Padang, and Batak peoples. Twenty percent of PPKGO’s members are women.

“The value added from Fair Trade is not just about money, it is about protecting the ecosystem and our community. We are able to invest in infrastructure to improve our well-being. Thanks to Fair Trade, one of my children is now in medical school and the other is in midwifery school.” Mohammed Salim, PPKGO member

Eco Tourism is a vibrant movement and it may be defined by its lack of definition.

Generally speaking, ecotourism focuses on local cultures, wilderness adventures, volunteering, personal growth and learning new ways to live on the planet. It is typically defined as travel to destinations where the flora, fauna, and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. Responsible ecotourism includes programs that minimize the adverse effects of traditional tourism on the natural environment, and enhance the cultural integrity of local people. Therefore, in addition to evaluating environmental and cultural factors, initiatives by hospitality providers to promote recycling, energy efficiency, water re-use, and the creation of economic opportunities for local communities are an integral part of ecotourism. (Wiki article)

A number of reports have been written on the potential for ecotourism in Indonesia and government policies developed.

Indonesia has developed principles and objectives in developing ecotourism in conservation areas. The principles include: (i) to maintain the balance of nature in the ecosystem and its life support system; (ii) to protect biodiversity and to use it as a genetic pool; (iii) to provide facilities for research, development, education and training; (iv) to provide facilities for nature tourism and preserve local culture; and (v) to maintain the balance between economic interest and conservation of natural resources and their ecosystems.

Our researches have found the following organisations here in Indonesia:

Indonesian Ecotourism Center which has a mission to develop and promote ecotourism in Indonesia based on scientific studies, culture sensitivity and business estimation, in order to conserve biodiversity and culture as tourism assets.

The Natural Guide promotes responsible ecotourism, based on the appreciation and respect of local peoples and the environment, throughout our publications and training activities. We support community-based recovery and development projects at grass root level with financial support, organization and technical assistance. We contribute to sustainable development by promoting socially and ecologically sound approaches.

Without endorsing any of the following projects, they do seem to offer holiday experiences with a sensitivity towards their local communities and environment:

Eco Lodge, South Sulawesi
Hotel Rimbo, West Sumatra
Puri Lumbung Cottages, Bali

The Jakarta Freecycle Network™ is open to all who want to ‘recycle’ that special something rather than throw it away. Whether it’s a chair, a fax machine, piano or an old door, feel free to post it. Or maybe you’re looking to acquire something yourself! Nonprofit groups are also welcome to participate too!

Koko works for Yayasan Sahabat Lingkungan (YSL - Foundation for a Friendly Environment). Four years ago he decided that something more practical than banners and brochures was needed.He put his hands into his pockets, pulled out Rp 20 million (US $2,000) and in a Surabaya kampung built a demonstration rubbish recycle pilot plant to say: No need to read or listen to me. Look and learn. Here’s proof. This is how it can be done. “Every day we get 20 barrows of garbage from the surrounding streets,” he said. “We also receive all the refuse from the local market. We sort this into bins for glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, aluminium, metal, bones and wood.

“About 70 per cent of the garbage is organic and we use this to make compost. Every month we earn about Rp 8 million (US $850) selling compost and the other materials for recycling.

“We’ve set this up as a working model and are constantly visited by government officials who admire what we’re doing and write reports. But very little happens.

“It’s difficult to implement change in Indonesia when people think the old way of doing things is OK.”