For the people of Pedamaran, OKI Regency, peatlands are the heart of life. They are economically and socially dependant on peatlands. But the opening of investment taps through the expansion of oil palm plantations threatens not only their income sources, but also peat swamp areas covering over 150 thousand hectares of land in this district.
Riau has announced state of emergency since February 19, 2019 while all schools in Pekanbaru have been closed since September 11, 2019, due to worsening air pollution that have reached unhealthy levels. While the Riau Regional Disaster Management Agency noted, for the period from January 1 to October 6, 2019, the total area of land burned in Riau had reached 9,120.5 hectares.
The expansion of private oil palm plantation in Gane Dalam, Halmahera is inevitable. Some residents choose to stay on the remaining land they have. Some of them sold their land and become labourers on the plantation. While environmentalists ask the government to review permits and policies that are deemed as not in favour of the local community.
The Chinese government injects financial assistance into infrastructure development in over 60 countries, through the Belt and Road initiative that is expected to benefit 4,4 billion people across the globe and contribute USD21 trillion to the global GDP. Journalists from Asia, Africa and South America discuss the media coverage of the mega project in their respective countries.
Turtle eggs trade and meat consumption are the two biggest challenges in the conservation effort of the endangered hawksbill species. However using persuasive approach, conservationists at the Karimunjawa National Park, work together with fishermen to protect the sea-dwelling testudines.
Morotai, an island in Indonesia’s North Maluku and population of less than 100,000 people, is no exception to the impacts of climate change, increasing plastic pollution and overfishing. A non-profit organization, Coast 2 Coast, along with several other NGOs, helps Morotai islanders conserve the ocean through environmental protection and surfing.
The young generation of Kubung Village, Central Kalimantan continues to instil diligence amongst themselves, to protect their forest that is rich with local fruits such as jengkol, durian and lanzones and are the main source of income for the indigenous Dayak Tomun. The movement is also part of their effort to reject oil palm plantation expansion in their village.
The eco-friendly food stall in Bambankerep, Semarang, Central Java, uses methane gas produced from landfill and receives payments with plastic waste.
A program aimed to tackle waste issues and break a life-long habit of throwing waste into waterways was introduced by the Palembang administration. Every weekend, public officials and residents comb through sewers and rivers, lifting up truck-loads of garbage, in hopes of not just cleaning the city, but changing people’s behaviour.
As the 24th Conference of Parties wrapped up in Katowice, questions remains on key issues, amid countries renewing their emission reductions. Indonesia has been actively involved in the UN climate talks since 1994 and it remains committed to its NDCs while renewing commitments especially in carbon emissions and forest and peatland governance.
