Accord Announced to PreserveSumatra’s Remaining Tropical Forests

Four Indonesian ministries, ten provincial governors, and the conservation group WWF have announced an agreement to protect the remaining tropical forests on Sumatra, an island that has lost half its rainforests to logging and oil palm plantations over the past quarter-century. Announced at the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, the agreement calls for Indonesian and Sumatran officials to map remaining intact forests and draw up plans to spare them from logging and burning. One factor behind the action is a promise from industrialized countries to pay Indonesia not to log its intact forests. The destruction of Sumatra’s forests has caused steep declines in orangutans, tigers, and numerous other species and has led to the release of massive amounts of greenhouse gases. Given the widespread government corruption that has enabled the clearing, scientists and conservationists will be watching closely to see if Indonesian and Sumatran officials make good on their commitment.