Rural Environmental Income on par with Crop Income, Study Finds

Natural forests and wildlands across 58 tropical research sites provide 28 percent of total household income — nearly as much as crops — according to a new study by the Poverty and Environment Network (PEN) and the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR). The study, titled “Environmental Income and Rural Livelihoods: A Global-Comparative Analysis,” is […]

Environmental Law Enforcement Sector Should be Emphasized

“There is no fire due to dry weather, 98 % investigation result, fire land caused because there’s someone who burns, said Sudariyono, Deputy of Legal Environment, Ministry of Environment (MOE) on the morning discussions at the BBPT Jakarta (15/4). MOE is currently working in law enforcement related cases land burning in Riau since June 2013. […]

Marine Development Is Not Yet A Priority

As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia is not paying enough serious attention to the marine sector. This is expressed by International Maritime Law experts, Prof. Hasjim Djalal, at a discussion, Jakarta, Saturday (5/4). He compares it with China and Russia, that is only have a few territorial waters. Currently, the two countries are doing a […]

Equity Remains Low on the REDD+ Policy Agenda

Government officials in forest-rich developing countries are more concerned about their nation being treated fairly in international negotiations on REDD+ than about fairness within their own territory, a media analysis of public discourses on REDD+ has found. Officials’ failure to address the issues that weaken fairness, or equity, within a country with entrenched inequalities could […]

Paliyan Locals Resist the Construction of an Airport

Dozens of locals in Paliyan, Temon, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta incorporated in the Wahana Tri Tunggal (WTT) rally support to resist the plan to build a new airport in Kulon Progo. This mega project was considered troubling the locals due to the risk of losing their agricultural land. [Read full text on Kabar Kota]

Scientist: Palm Plantations Hurt Biodiversity

Scientific research reveals that oil-palm plantations established on primary or secondary forests are unsuitable habitats for the majority of forest-dwelling native species, a finding that indicates biodiversity may be compromised, according to a new report. On the downside for forests, expanding oil palm cultivation leads to deforestation and destroys natural habitats, said Sini Savilaakso, a tropical forest ecologist […]

“Mount Ciremai for Sale” and Geothermal Complicated Issue

Following Geothermal Energy development by Chevron at  Mount Ciremai area in West Java, many rumors erupted. One silly issue says  Ciremai have been sold by the government at the price of Rp 60 trillion to Chevron Geothermal Ltd. This issue is considered as a reflection the complexity of developing geothermal energy in Indonesia. [Story by […]

Companies Investigated Over Forest Fires in Riau

The Riau Police are looking for companies or financiers believed to have hired farmers and residents to clear trees by fire. “We are searching for the financiers,” Riau Police chief Brig. Gen. Condro Kirono told the media at a coordinated meeting at the Riau Haze Disaster Mitigation command post at Roesmin Nurjadin Air Base in Pekanbaru […]

Farming Threatens Wetlands

Conversions into agriculture and plantations are the biggest threats to wetlands in Indonesia. More than 9 million hectares have been turned into oil palm plantations.