Pulp and Paper Industry Further Threatens Sumatran Tiger Population
Jun 07, 2011
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A month ago the WWF released rare video footage of Sumatran tiger cubs playing in land that is slated to become land slated for clearing, thanks to a booming pulp and paper industry.
Call Indonesia the Brazil of Asia--it has a huge population and is becoming the factory farm of the other hemisphere. Despite criticism heaped on Brazil, the evidence suggests Brazil does a much better job managing its land.
Indonesia makes the news for a lot of reasons--palm oil being one of them. Now its Bukit Tigapuluh region may face complete devastation, according to the WWF:
Other species threatened besides the Sumatran tiger are the orangutan and Sumatran elephant. The WWF encourages you to do you part and buy only paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).The areas of the central Sumatran forests where these tigers are concentrated are also prime targets for pulp and paper companies like Barito Pacific Group and Asia Pulp & Paper/Sinar Mas Group (APP/SMG). Both companies have permits pending to clear the forest. Prominent conservation, animal welfare and human rights groups, including WWF, have urged the two companies and the Indonesian government to protect these forests instead of allowing them to be cleared.Sumatran tiger, photo courtesy WWF
Read the entire story here.
