Greenpeace sails into Papua to protect rainforest ‘Eden’
Jayapura, Papua , 14 March, 2006: The Greenpeace flagship, Rainbow Warrior, sailed into the Indonesian province of Papua
for the first time today as part of a global campaign to help protect the world’s last ancient forests. Greenpeace is on
a mission to protect the Paradise Forests, the last ancient forests in Asia-Pacific, from illegal and destructive
logging, and is launching an eco-forestry programme in Papua to offer community-based forest management as an
alternative to large-scale, industrial logging.
“The Paradise Forests of Asia Pacific are brimming with unimaginable diversity of life,” said Emmy Hafild, Executive
Director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “But these forests and the life they support are being destroyed faster than any
other on Earth, driven by demand for timber in Europe, US, Japan and China."
Scientists from Conservation International recently discovered a ‘Garden of Eden’ in Papua’s Foja Mountains, an area
untouched by man and full of new species, including frogs, butterflies,plants and a new type of bird called the
orange-faced honeyeater.[i]
Dr. Jatna Supriatna, Director of Conservation International Indonesia, said: "Our discovery of new species underlined
the importance of saving the pristine forests of Papua. Possibilities are high that we will find more new species in the
area. These forests, however, are under threat from large-scale destruction before we may fully know what kind of flora
and fauna live in them."
Deforestation rates in Indonesia are among the highest in the world with at least 1.9 million hectares of forest
destroyed every year for the last five years[ii], equivalent to five football fields a minute. In total, Indonesia has
already lost more than 72% of its large intact ancient forest areas and 40% of its forest have been completely destroyed
[iii]. Much of the logging in Indonesia is illegal and, according to Indonesia Forest Minister, Malam Sambat Kaban,
“defrauds” the country of USD$ 4 billion each year.[iv]
Greenpeace is calling on governments in both timber producing countries, like Indonesia, and timber consuming countries,
like China, Japan, US and the EU member states, to adopt strong measures to combat illegal and destructive logging and
to establish a comprehensive network of protected areas around the world with effective law enforcement and management.
“Timber producing and consuming countries must work together to stop illegal and destructive logging. It is only
through regional and international cooperation that we can protect the world’s last ancient forests for future
generations,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest campaigner, Hapsoro.
As well as exposing forest crimes, Greenpeace is working with communites in Papua and Papua New Guinea to set up
responsible forestry initiatives. In Papua, Greenpeace will host a forum that aims to build a network of communities
working together on eco-forestry enterprises. On the other side of the island, meanwhile, Greenpeace volunteers from
around the world have built a Global Forest Rescue Station in Lake Murray, Western Province, Papua New Guinea, where
they are helping customary landowners mark the boundaries of their land, a first step towards protecting it from the
logging industry and a basis for eco-forestry in the area.
Greenpeace forest crimes unit is also on patrol in the Amazon, exposing the devastating impacts of deforestation in the
lead up to the Summit for Life on Earth, the meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity which begins on March
20th in Brazil.
Greenpeace is an independent, campaigning organisation, which uses non-violent, creative confrontation to expose global
environmental problems, and to force solutions essential to a green and peaceful future. It is committed to protecting
the world's last ancient forests and the people and animals that depend upon them.
ENDS
For more information on our work in the Paradise Forests go to:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/forests/asia-pacific
Images are available on request.
(1) Conservation International. February, 2006. Scientists Discover Dozens of New Species in “Lost World” of Western New
Guinea. http://www.conservation.org/xp/news/press_releases/2006/020706.xml
(2) FAO. 2005. Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. FAO’s definition of “forest loss” is, when canopy cover is less
than 10%. In a tropical forest this may mean only 7 trees on the area the size of a football field.
(3) World Resources Institute. 1997. The Last Frontier Forests
(4) ‘10 regents in Kalimantan prosecuted for illegal logging’, The Jakarta Post, 5th December 2005