Tufts of harsh, bristly hair and a white tail tip are among the defining features of a new rodent species discovered in Indonesia. The Spiny Boki Mekot Rat was found in the mountain forests of Halmahera, in the Moluccas (Maluku) archipelago. It was from these islands that Alfred Russel Wallace wrote to Charles Darwin, outlining his theory […]
Category: Kalimantan
AMAN: “Pasca Perpres REDD ada 4 Hal yang Perlu Dicermati”
Jakarta, Ekuatorial – Berbagai tanggapan muncul pasca keluarnya Peraturan Presiden (Perpres) Nomor 62 Tahun 2013 tentang Badan Pengelola Penurunan Gas Emisi Rumah Kaca dari Deforestasi, Degradasi Hutan dan Lahan Gambut atau REDD+. Badan ini dianggap tidak bergigi dan hanya sebagai macan kertas karena hanya memiliki fungsi koordinasi, sinkronisasi dan lain-lain. Namun, sebagian mengatakan Perpres itu […]
Neglected News Arises From The Birds of Paradise
Birds of paradise, perhaps widely known by most Indonesian people from the illustration of 1995’s banknote Rp 20.000 or 1971’s coins Rp 50. The legendary model, which is called Cendrawasih in Bahasa Indonesia, has extensively been studied of its species diversity and distribution. However, its behavior in the wilds had never been recorded and studied, […]
Sinarmas expands oil palm plantations in Papuan forests
A report has revealed that Golden Agri Resources (GAR), the Sinarmas Group’s oil palm business, is expanding its oil palm plantations in more than 20,000 hectares of forests in Papua. The expansion permit was obtained after the forests were removed from the government’s moratorium map on primary forests, the report says. The report titled “What are […]
Hot and Hotter
Orangutans were not the only ones driven away from the fires at the Tripa peat swamp. Local residents have found the heat rising from the peatland forest unbearable. A primate’s charred skull, no larger than a tennis ball, lay under a scorched tree. No one said anything up to that point. But as soon as Tempo attempted to lift the object, two […]
Tripa: Aceh’s Burning Shame
The Tripa peat swamp, one of the largest capacities storing carbon in Aceh, is near total ruin. A joint team investigates possible violations that destroyed the once rich peatland forest. In the middle of a vast, burned-down forest littered with charred, blackened tree trunks, Basuki Wasis instructs one of his staff to stick a pipe into the ground. One enters right through and […]
Plus for REDD, Minus for Indonesia?
Since the sign “+” was added to REDD (Reduction Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) jargon in 2008, many debates appears among experts. Some said, the plus sign is narrowing Indonesian “chance” for selling its forest carbon. Some said the sign on the other hand is enlarge the state opportunities in REDD, for giving a […]
The Sinking of Bedono
HIS vest bears an inkblot stain on its pocket. Yet every time he leaves the house for his round, Head of Bedono Village Mualipin never forget to put the tainted vest on top of his official uniform. This vest means something – it sends an important message. That afternoon, we stand at the end of a damaged bridge which cut the access that […]
The Lost Handful of Heaven
People of the region whittled Kerinci Seblat National Park with a new road. They disobeyed restriction of Ministry of Forestry. Seven years ago, Kerinci Seblat National Park was a joyful forest. Trees grew lush. Their trunks covered by fungus and lush bushes. People who entered the forest, shall found thousand of leech, danced and ceroused […]