DiCaprio endorses petition to save Sumatra’s last great rainforest
Leonardo DiCaprio has endorsed a Change.org petition asking Indonesian leaders to protect the Leuser Ecosystem, one of Southeast Asia’s last great swaths of rainforest.
Several times in recent days, the Oscar winner and environmental activist has exhorted his Twitter followers to sign the petition, which asks Indonesian president Joko Widodo, Aceh governor Zaini Abdullah and others to revoke the province’s new spatial plan, which makes no mention of Leuser and thus exposes its pristine forests and tiger habitat to industrial incursions.
source: http://news.mongabay.com/2016/04/dicaprio-signs-petition-to-save-sumatras-last-great-rainforest/
Flores eagle attracts international bird-watchers
More international bird-watchers, especially from the US and European countries, are visiting Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, to observe the Flores eagle, an endemic bird species on the island.
Yohanes B. Fua, head of the conservation section for regional division III at the East Nusa Tenggara Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), said areas popular for bird-watching included the Ruteng Ecotourism Park, especially on the southern side of Ranamese Lake in Kampung Phinisi, Ranamese district, East Manggarai regency. The peak of Mount Ranaka was also considered an ideal place to watch Flores eagles.
EU commits to helping Aceh in fight against climate change
All smiles: Aceh Governor Zaini Abdullah (left) shakes hands with EU Ambassador to Indonesia Vincent Guérend at his official residence Pendopo Aceh in Banda Aceh on Wednesday. The EU pledge to give Aceh ¤6.5 million (US$7.35 million) for environmental projects.(JP/Hotli Simanjuntak)
The European Union (EU) announced on Wednesday new funding worth ¤6.5 million (US$7.35 million) for Indonesia's Climate Change Response project, promising to support Aceh deal with environmental issues and sustainable economic development.
source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/03/31/eu-commits-helping-aceh-fight-against-climate-change.html
As Indonesian forests burn, new anti-fire agency feels heat
As forest fires raged like never before across Indonesia last year, President Joko Widodo announced he was setting up a special agency to tackle the annual scourge that shrouds parts of Southeast Asia in choking haze
But, with this season's fires already blazing, the Peatlands Restoration Agency has barely got off the ground and has a huge task ahead of it.
source: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-indonesia-fires-peatlands-idUSKCN0X00Z1
Orang Utan Illegal Traders Sent to Prison
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Pekanbaru District Court has sentenced three suspects of Orang Utan illegal trade in Riau. Awaludin and Ali Ahmad were sentenced to 2.5 years in prison, while Khairi Roza was sentenced to two years in prison.
"The suspects are proven to be guilty of their crime, and hereby sentenced to 2.5 years in prison," said Presiding Judge Ahmad Pudjoharsoyo during the trial on Tuesday, March 22, 2016.
source: http://en.tempo.co/read/news/2016/03/23/206756267/Orang-Utan-Illegal-Traders-Sent-to-Prison
