Riau kembali diancam Karhutla. Badan Penanggulangan Bencana Daerah (BPBD) Riau mencatat karhutla di Riau per Senin, 7 Agustus 2023, telah mencapai 1.146,53 hektar. Kebakaran hutan dan lahan (Karhutla) terluas terjadi di Kabupaten Bengkalis yang mencapai hampir 378 hektar.
Sejak medio April 2023, kabut asap akibat Karhutla telah menyelimuti kota Dumai dan Bengkalis. Hingga sepekan ini, karhutla sedikitnya telah menghanguskan lahan gambut berkedalaman 4 meter seluas lebih kurang 60 hektar, demikian data dari BPBD Provinsi Riau. Lokasi kebakaran terjadi di Desa Pelintung, Dumai, dan Desa Tanjung Leban, Kabupaten Bengkalis.
PEKANBARU, 3 JUNI 2021 – Laporan investigasi terkini diterbitkan koalisi Eyes on the Forest hari ini yang mengungkapkan hanya 14% (0,8 juta hektar) kebun sawit di Provinsi Riau –penghasil produk sawit terbesar di Indonesia—yang bisa dianggap legal. EoF menyarankan para pembeli produk sawit bahwa 86% kebun sawit Riau harus dianggap ilegal, hingga verifikasi lapangan rinci bisa membuktikan hal sebaliknya.
Pekanbaru, 1 May 2021--Eyes on the Forest (EoF) coalition condemns environmental permit granted to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) group to expand pulp production capacity of Riau Complex PT RAPP and urged the Government for banning natural forest clearing by the company in their attempt to obtain mixed tropical hardwood (MTH) for their operation.
Pekanbaru, 30 April 2021--Koalisi Eyes on the Forest (EoF) mengecam keras pemberian izin lingkungan untuk kegiatan pengembangan kapasitas Riau Komplek PT RAPP milik Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) dan meminta Pemerintah melarang pembukaan hutan alam oleh perusahaan demi mendapatkan kayu keras campuran (mixed tropical hardwood) untuk operasinya.
Eyes on the Forest bulan ini melakukan observasi pembuktian di lapangan (groundtruthing) akan adanya kebakaran hutan dan lahan di konsesi-konsesi Hutan Tanaman Industri (HTI) seperti yang terpantau oleh satelit NASA FIRMS VIIRS kurun Februari – Maret 2021.
Pandemi covid belum usai, masyarakat Riau kembali dihadapkan dengan ancaman kebakaran hutan dan lahan. Berdasarkan data dari BPBD Provinsi Riau, sejak Januari 2021 hingga kini luas lahan yang terbakar mencapai lebih kurang 248 hektar. Dilansir dari harian detik (24/2), Kepala Pelaksana BPBD, Riau Edwar Sanger, mengatakan karhutla sudah melanda 8 daerah di Riau. Luas lahan terbakar bervariasi, dari 4 sampai 82 hektar.
10 tahun lalu, tepatnya 3 Desember 2010, Eyes on the Forest merilis sebuah laporan yang menyingkap bagaimana dua perusahaan raksasa pulp dan kertas – Asia Pulp & Paper milik Sinar Mas Group (SMG / APP) yang berkantor pusat di Shanghai/Cina dan Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) milik Raja Garuda Mas Grup yang berkantor pusat di Singapura – terus mengkonversi hutan alam dan gambut dalam di propinsi Riau.
KOALISI ANTI MAFIA HUTAN PRESS STATEMENT: KPMG “ASSURANCE REPORTS” CALLED INTO QUESTION BY NEW FINDINGS -- A coalition of civil society organizations on Tuesday published a report about deforestation and peatlands degradation on the rainforest-rich island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Based on analysis using satellite imagery, the report documents significant deforestation, including clearance of forests on peatlands, in the concession area of PT Adindo Hutani Lestari (Adindo), one of global pulp and paper producer APRIL Group’s largest suppliers of wood to its pulp mill in Indonesia.
Koalisi Anti Mafia Hutan hari Selasa menerbitkan laporan terbaru "Membabat Hutan Tanpa Henti: Hubungan dengan Adindo Hutani Lestari Menciderai Komitmen Tanpa Deforestasi APRIL Grup." Laporan ini menyorot deforestasi dan degradasi lahan gambut di konsesi PT Adindo Hutani Lestari, Kalimantan Utara. Dan keterkaitannya dengan APRIL Grup atau grup induknya Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) Grup, salah satu penghasil pulp, kertas, dan viscose terbesar di Dunia.
On 26 August 2020, Jikalahari reported that PT Nusa Prima Manunggal (PT NPM), a wood supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd (APRIL), plans to clear-cut natural forest in a 1,565 hectares Communal Forest area of Koto Intuok Cooperative in Pulau Padang Village, Singingi District, Kuantan Singingi Regency, Riau.
In July 2020, Jikalahari NGOs network was informed by locals of Desa Dayun, Siak District, that Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) supplier, PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) sector Pelalawan, drained peat canal, conducted land clearing and replant Acacia mangium in the formerly burned area of 2015 and 2019 forest fires.
In June 2020, Jikalahari NGOs network found a plan of natural forest clearing by a supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), PT Nusa Prima Manunggal (NPM). Jikalahari revealed that the 1,565-hectares forest clearing’s plan was located in Desa Pulau Padang, Kuantan Singingi district.
Mewabahnya virus Covid-19 ternyata tidak menyurutkan aktivitas penebangan hutan secara ilegal. Juni 2020, temuan Jikalahari di Desa Pulau Padang, Kabupaten Kuantan Singingi, mengindikasikan adanya rencana penebangan hutan alam seluas 1.565 hektar yang akan dilakukan oleh PT Nusa Prima Manunggal (NPM), anak perusahaan Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL).
Pekanbaru, 26 Agustus 2020—Di tengah Covid-19, APRIL Grup menebang hutan, merusak gambut, membuka kanal di areal bekas terbakar 2016 di Kabupaten Siak, bukan hanya itu, APRIL Grup juga hendak menebang hutan alam seluas 1.565 hektar di Kabupaten Kuansing.
Memasuki bulan bersejarah bagi negara Indonesia dan provinsi Riau, puluhan titik panas muncul lagi, di tengah kurangnya intensitas hujan. Dilansir dari Riau Mandiri, Senin (10/8), BMKG mencatat ada 88 titik panas yang tersebar di seluruh kabupaten dan kota di Riau. Sedangkan sehari sebelumnya, yakni pada Minggu (9/8/2020), terdeteksi 38 titik panas.
Sumatra, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, APRIL, HCV, kerumutan, peat, protection, pulp, RGE, SRL, tiger
In 2009, a pulpwood plantation (HTI) development company affiliated with Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), one of the world’s largest paper companies, is clearing natural peat swamp forest with likely High Conservation Values under legally questionable circumstances.
Api kebakaran hutan dan lahan (karhutla) masih muncul di sekitar perkebunan dan konsesi perusahaan hutan tanaman industri. Awal Juli giliran api menghampiri Pulau Rupat, Kabupaten Bengkalis, ketika 3 Juli 2020 sekitar 2 hektar lahan karhutla membara di dalam kawasan Hutan Produksi Terbatas (HPT), perbatasan PT Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL) milik grup APRIL/RGE dengan PT Priatama Rupat, perusahaan sawit, di Desa Tanjung Kapal.
Eyes on the Forest website published a report of joint investigation by WWF-Indonesia and Jaringan Pemantau Independent Kehutanan (JPIK, independent monitoring network) Riau chapter in June 2015. The report analysing implementation of Indonesia’s Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK, Timber Legality Assurance System) in four forestry management units which were timber plantation suppliers located in Riau province.
Situs web Eyes on the Forest pernah menerbitkan laporan investigasi bersama oleh WWF-Indonesia dan Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan (JPIK) Riau pada Juni 2015. Laporan ini menganalisis implementasi Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu Indonesia (SVLK, Sistem Jaminan Legalitas Kayu) di empat unit manajemen kehutanan yang merupakan pemasok perkebunan kayu yang berlokasi di provinsi Riau.
Jakarta, 9 October 2019—
The Koalisi Anti Mafia Hutan released a report today finding that Indonesia’s two largest pulp and paper producers
EoF analysed that fire hotspots that NASA Fire VIIRS satellite detected more in Riau province either in peatland or mineral soil as 179 hotspots found in industrial timber plantations (HTI) concessions alone.
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, Palm oil, APP, APRIL, burnings, fires, forest, KPK, Land, peat, tax
Eyes on the Forest updated that more pulpwood plantation and palm oil companies were caught having fire hotspots on 28-30 July in Riau Province. Meanwhile, fewer fire hotspots detected by NASA satellite in Tesso Nilo National Park compared to 26 and 27 July analysis.
At least six industrial timber plantation concessions in Riau province were detected to have fire hotspots on 26 and 27 July as Eyes on the Forest team analysed based on satellite data by NASA FIRM VIIRS with confidence of nominal (medium).
Jikalahari said industrial timber plantations also drove forest and land burnings, not only palm oil plantations and minings.
Riau Province Government set emergency status of forest and land fires that effective from 19 February to 31 October 2019 following the intense burnings and haze in Bengkalis district, Dumai city, and Meranti islands district.
Hasil pengecekan lapangan oleh Eyes on the Forest menemukan adanya kebakaran hutan dan lahan di konsesi Hutan Tanaman Industri (HTI) di kabupaten Rokan Hilir dan kawasan prioritas restorasi gambut serta areal peta indikatif penundaan pemberian izin baru (PIPPIB) pekan lalu.
Eyes on the Forest coalition conducted last week series of ground checking on burned areas and found a concession of industrial timber supplier in Rokan Hilir district and peat restoration priority areas in Bengkalis razed by fires. The restoration areas were also situated on land of indicative map on new permit issuance suspension (dubbed as PIPPIB).
Langkah tegas Pemerintah Indonesia untuk melindungi dan memulihkan lahan gambut patut didukung, termasuk di antaranya kebijakan pelarangan pembukaan atau eksploitasi lahan gambut oleh perusahaan hutan tanaman industri (HTI). Setidaknya 16% atau setara dengan 2,1 juta hektar dari 12,9 juta hektar total luasan, telah ditetapkan pemerintah sebagai daerah prioritas restorasi gambut.
A legislator from Riau questioned the government who used helicopter facilities from a forestry and plantation company to monitor forest and land fires in the province.
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, advisory, APRIL, buyers, coalition, commitment, conflict, indonesia, investors, monitoring, paper, peat, pulp, RGE, SFMP, WWF
(EoF News) -- World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia released this week Advisory to Buyers and Investors of Royal Golden Eagle / Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (RGE/APRIL). Herewith the full version of the Advisory:
State Administrative Court Jakarta rejected Thursday lawsuit lodged by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP), a major supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), who demanded the court to annul suspension of their ten-year general workplan which banned their operation.
Thirty Indonesian NGOs and coalitions have sent a letter to 20 banks in China and Europe last week in responding to “the current situation of PT RAPP cancellation, continuing PT RAPP (APRIL main supplier) poor adherence to Indonesia regulation regarding peat protection and management,” Jikalahari said on his website.
EoF News -- Today, WWF-Indonesia together with Auriga, Forest Peoples Programme, Hutan Kita Institute, Jikalahari, KKI Warsi, Rainforest Action Network, Titian, WALHI Riau, WALHI Jambi, Wetlands International, and Woods& Wayside International published Evaluating the Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Performance of Sinar Mas Group (SMG) and Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) Companies-Criteria and Indicators for Assessing and Verifying Performance.
Hari ini WWF-Indonesia bersama dengan Auriga, Forest Peoples Programme, Hutan Kita Institute, Jikalahari, KKI Warsi, Rainforest Action Network, Titian, Walhi Riau, Walhi Jambi, Wetlands International, dan Woods& Wayside International mengeluarkan “Evaluating the Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Performance of Sinar Mas Group (SMG) and Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) Companies -Criteria and Indicators for Assessing and Verifying Performance”.
Pemerintahan Joko Widodo telah berkomitmen untuk mengurangi emisi gas rumah kaca, salah satunya melalui perlindungan lahan gambut sebagai upaya mencegah kebakaran hutan secara masif berulang. Namun, tampaknya hal ini tidak diindahkan oleh Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) melalui PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP).
A timber supplier for APRIL was fined IDR 16.2 trillion (US$ 1.19 billion) in an August trial by the Indonesian Supreme Court for illegal logging and environmental destruction in Pelalawan district, Riau province.
APRIL stopped Government investigation of legally questionable new peat drainage in Sumatra
APRIL menghalangi investigasi Pemerintah terkait kegiatan pembukaan lahan gambut baru di Sumatera. --Siaran Pers EoF
A new report by Deltares commissioned by Wetlands International conclude that plantations in Kampar Peninsula, Riau province, are not sustainable and economically unviable due to subsidence, drainage and flood problems.
Eyes on the Forest commended the Ministry of Environment and Forestry for issuing a letter and instructions regarding peat management for the prevention and control of fire.
Eyes on the Forest (EoF) supports Riau police to name 16 out of 18 timber plantation suppliers and palm oil plantations suspects of forest and land burning in 2015.
Kalimantan, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, What companies can do, Adindo Hutani Lestari, AHL, APRIL, burning, commitment, corporate, deforestasi, deforestation, EoF, fire burning, forest fire, forest fires, gambut, Jikalahari, kalimantan, moratorium, palm oil, peat fire, peatland, pulp & paper, SFMP
APRIL published an audit report by its consultant Hatfield which confirmed an Eyes on the Forest report that APRIL’s wood supplier, PT. Adindo Hutani Lestari (AHL) in North Kalimantan, had breached APRIL’s forest and peatland clearance moratorium starting 15 May 2015.
Kalimantan, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, What companies can do, Adindo Hutani Lestari, AHL, APRIL, commitment, deforestasi, deforestation, EoF, fire burning, forest fire, forest fires, gambut, GAPETA Borneo, haze, kalimantan, karhutla, moratorium, palm oil, peatland, pulp & paper, SFMP
Eyes on the Forest says APRIL unable to provide evidence that PT Adindo Hutani Lestari (AHL) in North Kalimantan, an APRIL timber supplier, did not clear natural forest after 15 May, the day when APRIL pledged to halt its forest clearing in its modified Sustainable Forest Management Policy. EoF had reported this moratorium violation on 22 June.
Riau province is raged by forest and land fires where EoF analyzed based on NASA Firms Eosdis Data that total 426 fires hostspots detected during June 2015.
A supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) in North Kalimantan cleared natural forest on peatland in violation of APRIL’s recently launched 2nd version of the Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP).
Commitment on Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) 2.0 that recently launched by Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) on 3 June 2015 is not a blank cheque nor a public relation stunt as usual to business world and public in whole.
PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), major concession of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), was found clearing natural forest in its concession of district/sector Ukui, Tesso Nilo landscape, Riau province.
Analysis by Eyes on the Forest coalition finds that Bengkalis district hit the most fire hotspots during March 2015 and PT Riau Rokan Lestari (RRL), a non-affiliated timber supplier concession got the most along with APRIL-affiliated PT Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL).
Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) likely broke its promise not to clear natural forest despite it has pledged not to do so in its sustainable forest management policy, a satellite images analysis detected.
On the first anniversary of APRIL’s “Sustainable Forest Management Policy”, Eyes on the Forest, Gapeta Borneo and RPHK call on APRIL to stop natural forest clearance and peat canal development immediately.
Two environmental groups sent letters to 26 banks in several countries as attempt “to express their concerns regarding the pulp and paper companies Asia Pacific Resources Limited (APRIL), Toba Pulp Lestari (TPL) and their sister companies under the conglomerate Royal Golden Eagle Group (RGE), due to their involvement in large scale deforestation and social conflicts.
Today, 10 months after APRIL published its Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) and established a “Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC)” to “ensure transparency and implementation of this SFMP”, EoF submitted its grievance report on APRIL’s flawed SFMP implementation in Pulau Padang to the SAC.
National Joint Team from some Government agencies revealed that 17 timber and plantation companies in Riau province failed to perform Compliance Audit in preventing forest and land fires, a joint inter-department task force said Friday.
Sumatra, Tenurial rights, Carbon stock, Pulp & paper, What companies can do, APRIL, Bagan Melibur, commitment, corporate, EoF, gambut, Hutan Riau, illegal clearing, Jaringan Masyarakat Gambut Riau, JMGR, peatland, perusahaan perusak lingkungan, pulau padang, pulp, pulp & paper, RAPP, social conflict
Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) allegedly violated its self-declared Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) commitment as it continued natural forest clearance in Bagan Melibur village of Padang Island, Riau province, an environmental group said.
Sumatra, Pulp & paper, APP, APRIL, corruption, deforestation, EoF, forest crime, Hutan Riau, indonesia, Indonesia Corruption Watch, Jikalahari, koalisi anti mafia hutan, Korupsi Hutan, KPK, Riau, Riau Corruption Trial, Rusli Zainal, Transparency International Indonesia, walhi, WALHI Riau, Yayasan Auriga
A coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations lodged corruption cases involving 27 forestry companies in Riau to anti-corruption commission (KPK) in Jakarta Tuesday, media reports said.
The Ministry of Environment (MoE) has named three companies suspects of forest and land fires that hit Riau in February-March this year, a senior official said last week.
Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), a Singapore-based giant pulp and one of leading actors in Indonesia deforestation, has allegedly violated its self-declared Sustainable Forest Management Policy (SFMP) commitment in two areas: North Kalimantan and Riau. The violations put more doubts on its SFMP which was just announced on 28 January 2014.
Three green groups working in Kalimantan launched an investigative report this week depicting deep peat forest clearance by a timber supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), PT Adindo Hutani Lestari (AHL), in Sesayap sector, North Kalimantan province.
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, What companies can do, APRIL, child, corporate, EoF, EoF Report, HCVF, HTI, illegal palm oil, IUCN, Jikalahari, Kampar, KPK, labor, ramin, RGE, Riau, Triomas, walhi
Eyes on the Forest coalition publishes latest investigative report as a consistency in monitoring deforestation in Sumatra, Riau in particular, as this edition highlights natural forest clearing in high conservation value forest (HCVF) by PT Triomas Forestry Development Indonesia, a supplier to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL).
NGO coalition launched an independent study on the Indonesian Timber Legality Assurance System (SVLK) to scrutinize whether it and the actual Timber Legality (LK), Sustainable Production Forest Management (PHPL) and V-Legal certificates can guarantee the legality and sustainability of Indonesian timber products.
The result of corruption trial of former governor of Riau Rusli Zainal (RZ) which was held on Wednesday (12/3) at Pekanbaru State Court sentenced RZ to 14 years in prison and a liability to pay a fine of Rp 1 billion subsidiary of 6 months imprisonment after being pleaded guilty for corruption on forestry sector and National Games (PON) 2012, media reported.
The second week of month showed the most fire hotspots found in Riau province since fires and haze returned from January. There are total 1605 hotspots detected accumulatively in the province based on NASA Modis Fire monitoring in period of 13-19 February.
After being free from haze and fires since September 2013, Riau’s annual problem, haze and wildfires, returns to Riau since the end of January 2014. The increasing hotspots which are found in plantations’ concessions as well as outside concessions which have caused the worsening air quality in the province, as schools closed and thousands people infected by respiratory infections.
A civil code trial on alleged pollution and environmental damage that involved one supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) belonging to tycoon Sukanto Tanoto’s Royal Golden Eagle group took place at the Pekanbaru Court in January, media reported.
World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) issued an advisory to buyers and investors of Royal Golden Eagle/Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (RGE/APRIL) following announcement by APRIL last week to apply its Sustainable Forest Management Policy.
Tenurial rights, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, What companies can do, APRIL, commitment, corporate, corruption, deforestation, EoF, forest fires, HCV, HCVF, Hutan Riau, illegal logging, Jikalahari, pulau padang, RAPP, RGE, Riau, SFMP, social conflict, teluk meranti, walhi, WALHI Riau
Jikalahari and Walhi (Friends of the Earth) Riau suspect the launch of Sustainable Forest Management Policy by APRIL today (Tuesday, 28 January 2014) in Jakarta, as a trick to destroy the remaining natural forest embedded with their illegal and problematic permits in Riau province.
Approximately 200 hundred residents of four villages in Merbau sub-district, Meranti Islands District, Riau, flocked in Lukit Village. It was Saturday, 12 October 2013, at 8 a.m, when hundreds of residents walked through the footpath surrounded by sago and rubber farm through the thatch heading to Tanjung Gambar, Lukit Village of Pulau Padang (island), Meranti district of Riau province.
Sumatra, Lack of governance, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, APP, APRIL, Azmun Jafar, Bhakti Praja Mulia, corruption, forest crime, Merbau Pelalawan Lestari, Mitra Hutani, Mitra Taninusa Sejati, permit, PON XVIII, pulp, pulp and paper industry, pulp suppliers, Putri Lindung Bulan, RAPP, Riau Governor, Rimba Mutiara Permai, Rusli Zainal, Satria Perkasa Agung, Selaras Abadi Utama, Seraya Sumber Lestari
The first trial on corruption cases involving Riau Governor Rusli Zainal who allegedly paid bribe in PON 2012 national games scandal and accepted bribery in issuing forest logging permits for pulp and paper timber suppliers held on last Wednesday (6/11) in Pekanbaru Corruption Court.
The Ministry for Environment reiterated that probe on Riau’s timber and palm oil companies --who named suspects due to allegedly setting forest and land fires in June-- would be proceeded including to prosecute them with money laundry verdict, an official said.
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, Palm oil, APP, APRIL, Asia Pulp & Paper, BBHA, deforestation, Eyes on the Forest, forest fires, palm oil plantations, pulp and paper industry, pulp suppliers, pulpwood, RAPP, Ruas Utama Jaya, Sakato Pratama Makmur, Sinarmas Group, Sumatera Riang Lestari, WWF Indonesia
At least four pulpwood suppliers and three palm oil plantations named suspects for allegations on Riau wildfires in June-July 2013. Some of these suspected companies are timber suppliers to Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) and Asia Pacific Resource International Limited (APRIL), a newspaper report said this week.
Giant pulp and paper company, Asia Pacific Resources International Ltd (APRIL), prepared a new restoration project to work on the heavily degraded peatlands in Kampar Peninsula, Riau province, Sumatra. Last month Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) banned the company to associate the giant’s products with the certification agency.
Fires hotspots likely got its peak this month on Tuesday (27 August) seeing the 5th largest number of hotspots (758) recorded since 1 June this year, as 26% of that found inside the Tesso Nilo complex.
A monitoring on corruption trial by a university in Jakarta concluded yesterday that there was allegedly discrimination by judges of corruption court in taking a punishment to a defendant on forestry graft case in Riau province.
As APRIL has been officially banned from using Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) trademark, leading environmental groups WWF, Greenpeace and the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) have called on other forest industry certification schemes to cut ties with the giant deforester.
Three excavators owned by a supplier of Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) , PT Rimba Lazuardi (RL), in Pelalawan District were burned by hundreds of local people on Sunday, July 7th 2013, following a land conflict between the company and local society amid intensifying tense since the last two months, media reported.
Eyes on the Forest today published photos from field verification trips on 17, 27 and 28 June 2013 in its Google Earth based online Sumatra database. NASA’s FIRMS MODIS fire locations data recorded 9,236 hotspots in Sumatra between 1 and 28 June. 89% were recorded in Riau province (8,229). Majority of the hotspots were recorded on peat soil, suggesting massive carbon emissions.
Greenpeace, the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) and WWF have claimed that the pulp and paper giant Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) is dodging an independent enquiry into its deforestation practices in Indonesia by withdrawing from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
At least 6772 fires hotspots were detected accumulatively in Riau Province in period of 1-23 June 2013, based on MODIS Fires satellite monitoring that analyzed by Eyes on the Forest this week.
Riau Governor Rusli Zainal finally was detained by Corruption Eradicatio Commission (KPK) yesterday for allegedly “abusing power to make money for himself and other people or a corporation” by legalizing five-yearly logging plans to some timber suppliers in Pelalawan and Siak Districts between 2001 – 2007, KPK press release said.
Police have saved eight children working for main supplier of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) in Pulau Muda, Pelalawan district, and nabbed a contractor recruiting the children from North Sumatra province, media report said.
Sumatra, Lack of governance, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, Agam Sempurna, APRIL, company, corporate crimes, deforestation, EoF, Eyes on the Forest, Gemilang Cipta Nusantara, IUPHHK, Jikalahari, Kampar Peninsula, Ministry of Forestry, Muhammad Harris, padang island, peatlands, pulp and paper industry, RAPP, restoration, Riau
Despite a restoration program organized by a company affiliated to pulp giant in Kampar Peninsula, Riau province, launched and endorsed by the Ministry of Forestry, environmentalists criticized it as a manuoevre by wo-faced company which merely seek benefit from credit carbon scheme.
Sumatra, Lack of governance, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, 14 companies, Anugerah Bumi Sentosa, APRIL, Arara Abadi, Azmun Jafar, Bina Daya Laksana, Bukit Betabuh, Citra Sumber Selaras, company assets, corporate crimes, corruption, deforestation, forest crime, ICW, illegal logging, Inhil Hutan Pratama, KPK, Madukoro, Merbau Pelalawan Lestari, Mitra Kembang Selaras, Nusa Prima Manunggal, RAPP, Riau, Rimba Mandau Lestari, Suntara Gaja Pati, Wana Rokan Bonai Perkasa
In attempt to mitigate the corporates’ forest crimes, some activists demand Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to immediately seize the company assets of the listed names alleged for corporate crimes involvement.
Sumatra, Lack of governance, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, Alam Jaya, APP, APRIL, Bhakti Praja Mulia, corruption, deforestation, Harapan Jaya, human rights abuses, ICW, Madukoro, Merbau Pelalawan Lestari, Mitra Hutani Jaya, Mitra Tani Nusa Sejati, Mutiara Lestari, pollution, pulp and paper industry, Putri Lindung Bulan, RAPP, Riau, Rimba Mutiara Permai, Satria Perkasa Agung, Selaras Abadi Utama, timber supplier, Trio Mas FDI, Tuah Negeri, Uniseraya, water pollution, wood supply, Yos Raya Timber
Students association in Pelalawan district where Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) office and mill located protested the company’s main supplier PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) over ignorance in providing employment for locals as well as intransparency in handling industrial waste management.
An independent monitoring on legal wood certification in Riau province urged the government and certification agencies to be responsible for passing Timber Legality of Assurance System (TLAS) certificates to forest management units as some of timber companies targeted by anti-corruption commission for further probe on graft scandals.
Following last week’s announcement by Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) to stop clearing Indonesian forests and peatlands, World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) urged Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) to “change their unsustainable business model” immediately.
Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Riau Governor Rusli Zainal suspect for National Games PON 2012 graft case as well as for Pelalawan forestry corruption last week.
World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) hailed Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) announcement to stop clearing Indonesia's tropical forest and peatlands, but urged paper buyers to "wait for confirmation of the claims through independent monitoring by civil society before doing business with APP."
Three local government officials and one staff of PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, timber supplier for Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), were detained by Riau Prosecutors Office for allegedly embezzling the state’s income from forestry tax.
Despite promising to its customers that they would only use plantation fiber to feed its pulp mill by 2009. Wood supply to global pulp giant Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), has resulted natural forest loss double the size of Singapore, in Riau Province since that deadline.
Eyes on the Forest coalition released a new report on Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) today saying “APRIL’s public commitment to sustainable and natural fiber free operations after 2009 was pure sales talk; green-washing to win back customers who had left the company due to its dismal sustainability record.”
Fifteen wild Sumatran elephants had been killed in Riau province since January this year following the deaths of three female elephants in Tesso Nilo forest block as officials believed they were poisoned.
Former Riau Forestry Service and Kampar District Head, Burhanuddin Husein was punished two and a half year jail by Corruption Criminal Court in Pekanbaru on Wednesday after judges decided he was found guilty in committing graft collectively.
A local official in Riau Province this week accused a timber supplier affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), obtaining a document of environmental impact analysis (Amdal) which could be fake as it was registered in the name of another company.
Bengkalis district government set up a team to verify land dispute in Rupat Island this week in attempt to mediate conflict between PT Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL), a timber supplier associated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) against Rupat Island (Pulau Rupat) residents.
Sumatra, Lack of governance, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, Alam Lestari, APP, APRIL, Balai Kayang Mandiri, Bina Daya Bintara, Burhanuddin Husin, corruption, deforestation, forest graft, license, logging, Mutiara Lestari, NTFP, Persada Karya Sejati, pulp and paper industry, pulpwood plantation, RAPP, Riau Corruption Trial, Rimba Mandau Lestari, Selaras Abadi Utama, Siak Raya, timber supplier, Tuah Negeri
Recent trials of forestry corruption with defendant Burhanuddin Husin, former Riau Forestry Service Head at Pekanbaru’s Corruption Crime Court presented witnesses telling irregularities found in ground checking.
Human and Sumatran tiger conflicts are escalating in Riau province in recent months as two endangered species were found dead by snares and a teenager laborer attacked to death by a tiger in three separate incidents.
Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) timber suppliers are protested by communities in several pulpwood concessions in Riau Province, Sumatra, early this month, over long-standing conflicts between villagers and companies.
Non governmental organizations and civil society group network to rescue natural forest in Riau, Jikalahari, denounced Pelalawan District Head for ignoring community’s proposal to manage communal forest in Kampar Peninsula and critized his favoritism to pulp giant’s “greenwashing” project.
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, acacia, APP, APRIL, Arita Abadi, Artelindo Wiratama, Bina Daya Bentala, Dexter Timber Perkasa, fire hotspots, hotspot, monitoring, pulp companies, pulpwood plantation, Rimba Lazuardi, Rimba Rokan Lestari, Rimba Rokan Perkasa, Satria Perkasa Agung, Sumatera Riang Lestari, timber plantation
As rain rarely pours Riau Province many fires hotspots found recently including in timber concessions and protected areas. At least 613 hotspots detected within three weeks in this month as the total of hotspots in the province are 1573.
A coalition of Indonesia’s NGOs called Anti-Forest Mafia Coalition urged global pulp buyers last week to beware of allegedly corruption-tainted pulp products following an analysis of timber companies’ involvement in graft cases that jailed government officials in Riau province.
Sumatra, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, APRIL, Azmun Jaafar, Bakti Praja Mulya, Burhanuddin Husein, corruption, EoF, forest graft, forestry corruptors, KPK, license, Mitra Tani Nusa Sejati, Pelalawan, Putri Lindung Bulan, Riau, Rimba Mutiara Permai, Selaras Abadi Utama, Syuhada, timber supplier, Tuah Negeri
A former Forestry Service head in Riau province was charged of five year imprisonment by Anti-corruption Court in Pekanbaru on Wednesday for found guilty of receiving bribery and fee from companies as he issued logging licenses for several timber companies.
The Ministry of Environment vowed to bring 14 timber companies in Riau province which allegedly involved in environmental destruction to the court of justice following two meetings among related government agencies, a weekly magazine disclosed.
Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is urged to nab more corruptors, including the untouchables from officials and persons from companies, civil society activists said last week.
A recent observation by Eyes on the Forest coalition had confirmed that PT Sumatera Riang Lestari in block Rupat still clearcut protected species, Ramin tree (Gonystylus sp), similar to the thorough investigation in 2010.
Civil society groups in Riau Province condemned violence shown by PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), a subsidiary and timber supplier of Asian Pacific Resource International Limited (APRIL) who violently dispersed Gunung Sahilan community’s land dispute protest on 6 March by hitting motorbikes and assaulted the locals.
Police planned to disperse residents of Padang island whom staged rallies and had been staying near House of Representatives’ compound in Jakarta for one month as eight hospitalized and one treated in a mental hospital.
The Indonesian Minister of Forestry suspended temporarily logging operation held by Asian Pacific Resources International Limited’s (APRIL’s) PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) Tuesday in a concession situated in outer island Pulau Padang, Riau province.
Sumatra, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, APP, APRIL, Arwin AS, Azmun Jaafar, Balai Kayang Mandiri, Bhakti Praja Mulia, Bina Daya Bintara, corruption, EoF, forestry corruptors, ICW, KPK, logging license, Mitra Taninusa Sejati, NTFP, Putri Lindung Bulan, Rimba Mandau Lestari, Rimba Mutiara Permai, Selaras Abadi Utama, Seraya Sumber Lestari, Syuhada, timber supplier, Tuah Negeri
Former Siak District Head Arwin AS was sentenced to four-year imprisonment by Corruption Court in Pekanbaru on Thursday as he was found guilty to make money collaborately by issuing logging licenses to pulp timber suppliers during his service as District Head in 2001-2002.
EoF News (PEKANBARU) – Former Siak Distric Head whom is prosecuted in Corruption Crime Court here asked Prosecutors to present more key witnesses including Riau Governor Rusli Zainal and Kampar District Head, reports said.
EoF News (PEKANBARU)-- Following riot in concession of PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, a timber supplier affiliated to Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), in Pulau Rupat island nearly two weeks ago, some groups urged the Government to resolve the conflict.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)-- Residents of Pulau Padang of Meranti District urged Riau Legislative Council (DPRD) to help halt operation of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) in the island for land dispute and environmental concerns.
EoF News (PEKANBARU)-- Meranti District councilors said Tuesday they would submit a letter to the Minister of Forestry to evaluate the operation by pulp and paper timber in Pulau Rangsang, an island off Riau eastern coast.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Jikalahari, environmental organization’s network to save natural forest in Riau, sent a letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono last week to order the police and prosecutors office to prosecute 14 timber companies which allegedly committing environmental destruction.
(AAP via insideretail.com.au) -- Stationery and equipment retailer Officeworks has ceased doing business with paper supplier APRIL over claims it is illegally logging Indonesian forests.
Independent tests carried out by a US laboratory IPS for Markets for Change (MFC) on the APRIL (1) paper brand Lazer IT , stocked by Officeworks, has found that the paper tested contained over 80% pulp fibre from Indonesian rainforest.
(Herald Sun / AAP, 4 Aug 2011) -- Environmentalists have praised Fuji Xerox for cutting ties with a big paper manufacturer accused of wrongfully logging Indonesian rainforests.
PT Siak Raya Timber obtained logging license based upon decree of Forestry Ministry’s SK.20/BPHT-3/2009, 19 June 2009, covering an area of 350 hectares with potential timber of 28,970 cubic meter.
The concession area of PT RAPP Blok Logas Selatan (Sei Tasem) is located in the Bukit Rimbang – Bukit Baling forest block that has hilly and highly potential to contain High Conservation Value as indicated in this region including Protected Areas by the Indonesian Government and Riau Province Government.
EoF News (PEKANBARU) -- Eyes on the Forest today launched an investigative report on PT Citra Sumber Sejahtera (CSS), an affiliated to Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), which found breaking the group's commitment in protecting High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF).
PT Sumatera Riang Lestari (SRL) is an affiliated company to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL).Through annual cutting approval, called formally Annual Work Plan (RKT) in 2009, particularly PT SRL Blok Rupat alone was granted 2889 hectares.
50% or 8,8 millions M3 of PT IKPP and PT RAPP raw material supplies had been extracted from natural forests and the rest 8.9 millions M3 per year are from Plantation Forests. With this lack of raw material supplies from production forest, the remaining natural forests in Riau are threatened as the potential target of raw material supplier.
On a humid afternoon in Sungai Tohor, a coastal village in Sumatra's Riau province, 50 or so men are packed into a town-hall conference room. They sit in neat rows of blue plastic chairs, many clad in knee-high rubber boots, loose-fitting polo shirts, and baggy pants, the casual uniform of an Indonesian farmer. Women and children peer in through open windows and doors. There's excitement in the air, thanks to a gaggle of visiting journalists and enviros who have come to discuss the fate of the village Âand a way of life now under siege.
EoF News (PEKANBARU) – WWF Indonesia published its position on APRIL today. It wrote: “Until APRIL changes course and to demonstrate its responsibility and sustainability in the field, WWF recommends that existing or potential buyers and investors should be wary of conducting any business with APRIL if they want to avoid the risk of contributing to natural forest destruction.
Riau is and will be Indonesia’s epicenter for climate change from loss of natural forest and peat drainage. It had the country’s highest rate of natural forest loss and of peat soil degradation and their respective associated emissions in recent years. It has the largest volume of peat soil in Indonesia and the second largest area of natural forest in Sumatra. Most of all, much of the natural forest loss and peat degradation in Riau is “planned, legal deforestation,†which would be easy to stop if government had the will to do so.
EoF News (PEKANBARU)—Former Riau Forestry Service Head was sentenced to 5-year imprisonment last week by Anti-Corruption Court for receiving bribes from pulpwood plantation companies within 2002-2005 which caused the State loss amount to Rp 889.2 billion (US$ 98.8 million).
EoF News (PEKANBARU)— At least 172 hotspots accumulatively detected by Modis Terra Aqua satellite in Riau Province this week, during 18-21 October, which put 48% of total hotspots recorded in pulpwood concessions. The rest 90 hotspots found in various lands that could be palm oil plantations, wasteland and forest.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— At least 150 residents of Teluk Meranti village along with NGO activists and informal leaders flocked to Pelalawan District Office and Local Legislative Council (DPRD) compound in Pangkalan Kerinci town Tuesday to protest pulpwood plantation operation by APRIL in Kampar Peninsula forest block, Riau Province.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— At least 12 non-governmental organizations in Riau province sent a legal notice against Minister of Forestry over conversion license issued by the official in Kampar Peninsula, reports said recently.
The two companies together pulped five percent of the remaining natural forest in Sumatra’s Riau Province, twice the size of Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, an analysis of 2009’s annual cutting licenses (RKT) shows that these licenses were issued for the extraction of high timber volumes per hectare.
Walhi Riau, Scale Up, JIKALAHARI, Greenpeace and Forum Komunikasi Pemuka Masyarakat Riau (FKPMR/Riau Community Leaders Forum) ) paid condolences and strongly denounced the violent incident claiming one casualty and another one was hospitalized with heavy wounded in Kenegerian Pucuk Rantau village, Kuantan Singingi district, Riau province on Tuesday.
International consultants Tropenbos will facilitate a public consultation for a High Conservation Value (HCV) assessment for the APRIL pulp and paper operations in the Kampar Peninsula, Riau, Sumatra. This follows a similar consultation in Riau in February that was not attended by Riau based NGOs. For the same - and following - reasons, Greenpeace will not participate in this public consultation.
PEKANBARU -- SmartWood, an independent forest management certifier, has suspended the interim certification of Asia Paper Resources International Limited (APRIL) pulp products. The paper giant failed to meet the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)’s minimum standard for "controlled wood" certification.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Eyes on the Forest coalition today published an Investigative Report on PT Lestari Unggul Makmur (LUM), a pulpwood plantation company associated to Asian Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL).
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Minister of Forestry visited a pulpwood plantation concession in peat Kampar Peninsula forest block, Riau province, in an attempt to solve conflict between local community and PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), an associated company to Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Residents of a village in Kerumutan block forest met parliamentarians from Riau Province Legislative Council’s (DPRD) Commission A on Tuesday here to file complaints over land dispute against PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, an industrial timber plantation company associated to Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Riau Province Legislative Council (DPRD) decided to establish a special committee to verify controversy brought by pulpwood development permit of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), an associated company to Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
After a month in operation, specially designed video cameras installed by WWF-Indonesia’s researchers seeking to record tigers in the Sumatran jungle caught the mother tiger and her cubs on film as they stopped to sniff and check out the camera trap.
WALHI (Friends of Earth Indonesia) Riau releases Investigative Report on natural forest clearing by PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, an associated company to APRIL in Pulau Rangsang, Kepulauan Meranti district of Riau province, Sumatra
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—The Minister of Forestry suspends natural forest clearing operation that conducted by PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP), an associated company to Asian Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
PEKANBARU (EoF News)--- An industrial timber plantation (HTI) permit issued by the Minister of Forestry sparked controversy as Riau Forestry Service insisted that the license have administrative and land use problems. The Minister of Forestry and Riau Governor defend PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper’s stance that was criticized and protested by Greenpeace and local environmental organizations.
(UPM, Helsinki, 12 November 2009)– UPM will increase the share of plantation based eucalyptus pulp from Uruguay in the paper production of its Changshu paper mill in China. Consequently, at the end of October, UPM decided to terminate its pulp purchase contract with APRIL. The new pulp sourcing strategy has been made possible by the agreement concerning the transfer of the Fray Bentos pulp mill in Uruguay to UPM's ownership. UPM informed APRIL at the beginning of November about its decision to terminate the purchasing contract.
Civil society organizations in Riau Province: Jikalahari, Walhi Riau, Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Riau, Transparansi Internasional Indonesia (TII), Kantor Bantuan Hukum (KBH) Riau and Hakiki urge the Government of Indonesia to revoke concession license of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) in Kampar Peninsula due to it threatens unique ecosystem in the world.
PEKANBARU (EoF News) –- Ongoing natural forest clearing in Riau province have escalated conflict between communities and pulp company as environmentalists groups vowed to support the villagers’ rights.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Eyes on the Forest coalition today is releasing an Investigative Report conducted in May and June 2009 in Kerumutan block forest where EoF found PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, a company associated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), is clearing natural peat swamp forest with likely High Conservation Values under legally questionable circumstances.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)-- Firefighters desperately struggled to extinguish forest and land fires in Riau Province as residents suffered upper respiratory problems due to worsening quality of air, while airport administrators delayed flights, media reports said.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—At least 229 hotspots were detected by satellite in Riau province during 1-15 June 2009 where pulpwood plantation concessions (HTI) had 79 hotspots, and Selective Logging Concessions (HPH) have been hit with 66 hotspots.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—An independent fact-finding team set up by Riau community group, local students and non-governmental organizations urged the police Monday to probe thoroughly bloody incident between pulpwood company PT Sumatera Silva Lestari and Tangun villagers which killed three residents.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—At least three villagers were killed following bloody clash between community and security guards of a pulpwood plantation company, PT Sumatera Silva Lestari (SSL) in Rokan Hulu district, Riau Province, a local website reported today.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—New approval to natural forest clearing issued by the Minister of Forestry recently sparked criticism and protest by environmental as well as local community groups in Riau province, media reported Wednesday.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— The National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri told House of Representatives’ Law Commission that decision to close Riau illegal logging cases is final despite there is still a chance to resume them if new evidence available and court orders it.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Majority of forest and land fires in Riau Province recently detected by satellite from 17 January to 28 January 2009 occurred in peatlands where hotspots found in several concessions of pulpwood plantations (HTI) and palm oil. Protected Area (Kawasan Lindung) and proposed expansion of Tesso Nilo National Park were also raged by fires, Eyes on the Forest analyzed.
PEKANBARU (EoF News) -- A witness on the trial of Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar in Jakarta told the judges last week that the defendant received at least Rp 1.5 billion from PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) as a gratification for issuing forestry operation license for the subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL).
PEKANBARU (EoF News)-- Newly officiated Chief of Riau Police, Brig.Gen. Hadiatmoko, pledged yesterday to continue the anti-illegal logging campaign that pioneered by his predecessor, Sutjiptadi, following the installment ceremony held here Tuesday (27/5/2008). Sutjiptadi who initiated waging war against perpetrators of forest crime clearing natural forest in the province for one year had been replaced by Hadiatmoko, former Director Specific Crime Intelligence at the Indonesian Police Headquarters. Sutjiptadi would serve as Governor of Police Academy in Central Java. Asked by the press whether he would continue the anti-illegal logging operation done by his predecessor, Hadiatmoko said he needed consolidation internally first, Riau Terkini website reported Tuesday (27/5/2008).
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—Riau Police said that at least 258 persons named suspects of ongoing environmental and forestry crime cases involving pulp and paper companies and government officials.
PEKANBARU (EoF News)—The only bridge connecting Asia Pacific Resources International Limited Holding's (APRIL) logging road to logpound of PT Madukoro’s concession in Kampar Peninsula block forest collapsed causing the policemen and heavy machines bringing auctioned woods still stranded, latest reports said.
Pekanbaru (EoF News)— Police and PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) employees were engaged in clash in the gate of the Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL) compound in Pangkalan Kerinci, Pelalawan of Riau, yesterday (3 April 2008) caused several employees and policemen suffered minor injuries, reports said.
In an investigative report published today by Eyes on the Forest, evidence shows that a new logging road in Riau Province -- strongly indicated as illegally built by companies connected to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) -- is cutting into the heart of Sumatra’s largest contiguous peatland forest, a rare hydrological ecosystem that acts as one of the planet’s biggest carbon stores.
Dalam sebuah laporan investigasi yang dipublikasikan hari ini oleh Eyes on the Forest, bukti-bukti menunjukkan bahwa perusahaan-perusahaan gabungan Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) belum lama ini membuka sebuah jalan logging yang memotong jantung hutan gambut penting di Semenanjung Kampar, Riau.
Turning just one Sumatran province's forests and peat swamps into pulpwood and palm oil plantations is generating more annual greenhouse gas emissions than the Netherlands and rapidly driving the province's elephants into extinction, a new study by WWF and partners has found.
Pekanbaru (EoF News)— Environmental groups in Riau expressed their concern over a paper product that allegedly made from wood of natural forest.
By Fred Pearce, New Scientist -- 1 December 2007 (part 1)
By Fred Pearce, New Scientist magazine -- 1 December 2007 (part 2)
By Fred Pearce, New Scientist magazine -- 1 December 2007 (part 3)
Pekanbaru (EoF News)—Police and an environmental organization supported legal action taken by Pelalawan District Court which appealed against the decision made by Riau High Court to free 25 defendants of illegal logging case, media reported Friday.
Pekanbaru (EoF News)—House of Representatives’ Commission VII blasted both President Directors of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP) and PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) who decline to attend a hearing that discussed Riau’s illegal logging issues on Monday (24/9/2007), official House website (dpr.or.id) reported Tuesday (25/9).
Pekanbaru (EoF News)— The Indonesian Police warned that Riau’s natural forest might be gone within next 15 years as about 200,000 hectares of forest clearcut annually by logging practices, media reports said. At a hearing with House of Representatives’ Commission III on Monday (17/9/2007), Chief of Indonesian Police, General Sutanto, told that illegal logging legal processes in Riau are still underway, Tempo Interaktif website reported Monday. Sutanto said that not any authority can stop the police to probe the cases, Koran Tempo daily reported Tuesday (18/9).
Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- Following his raid to an Asia Pulp Paper's subsidiary concession in Indragiri Hilir two weeks ago, Chief of Riau Police Brig.-Gen. Sutjiptadi pledged to conduct aerial observation as he believed the forestry companies clearcut the forests in remote area. At a discussion held by Walhi Riau in Pekanbaru Tuesday, the Chief of Riau Police said that he and his team has confiscated felled logs from natural forest in the concession of PT Citra Sumber Sejahtera, a partner pulpwood company of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).
Pekanbaru (EoF News)--- The Minister of Forestry Malam S. Kaban slammed the Riau Police over probing against forest crimes allegedly perpetrated by companies saying the law enforcers should not meedle with the "government's area."
Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- Riau Police have insisted to probe all out illegal logging cases involving large forestry companies amid worries warned by the provincial legislators as the action would harm investment opportunity in the province.
Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- Bukit Tigapuluh block forest inevitably will be dominated by acacia planted forest soon as the Ministry of Forestry allowed two giant pulp companies to convert around 138,000-hectare natural forest into pulpwood plantation.
Pekanbaru (EoF News) – Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra releases its Investigative Report September & October 2006 today. The EoF Investigation found Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings (APRIL) to be involved in forest clearance operations in two concessions in the Kampar Peninsula forest block. EoF considers these operations illegal as well as destroying potential High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) despite APRIL’s own publicly announced policy to protect HCVFs.
Pekanbaru (EoF News) -- The Indonesian Police Headquarters have sent its high-ranked officers to Riau province in supervising anti-illegal logging operations within recent month where 71 cases disclosed, 101 perpetrators detained, and 33,702 large logs seized as well as thousand middle and small sized logs are confiscated. The Indonesian Police have deployed five top officers to Riau last week, including Chief of Crime Intelligence Unit Bambang Hendarso Danuri and General Supervision Inspector Jusuf Manggabarani, to monitor the anti-illegal logging raids in the province.
Riau NGO coalition calls Government to stop selling largest remaining natural forest block in Sumatra ’s Riau and Jambi: 130,000 hectares of Sumatran tiger and elephant forests under siege
Pekanbaru (EoF News) – Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra releases its Investigative Report August 2006 today. The EoF Investigation found Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings (APRIL) to be involved in natural forest clearance by its associated company, PT Bina Daya Bintara’s concession inside the Libo forest block. EoF considers these operations illegal as well as destroying potential High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) despite APRIL’s own publicly announced policy to protect HCVFs. When APRIL was found to be involved converting forests in the same concession and to sell the wood to Asia Pulp & Paper’s pulp mill in March 2006, (Investigative Report March 2006 ), APRIL honored EoF’s request and halted logging in the concession to protect Sumatran elephant habitat. However, in August 2006, APRIL’s wood supply company was again found clearcutting natural forest in this concession but this time selling the wood to APRIL itself.
Pekanbaru – (EoF News) – In responding back the replies from APP on Investigative Report June 2006 and from APRIL on IR May 2006, Eyes on the Forest learns that the two companies did not pay attention much to findings which highlighted on conservation concerns.
APRIL responds to EoF May 2006 investigation
Despite the officials in Riau claimed that hotspots detected by satellite has vanished, fires still occur inside Tesso Nilo forest on Monday as observed by WWF monitoring officer. The fires are currently set by the encroachers that occurred in coordinate point of South 00.04.38.9 and East 101. 47. 40. 9 (see picture 1 ).
A Greenpeace team of investigators has discovered widespread destruction of Sumatra's ancient forests, caused by fires which are threatening to burn out of control.
The two companies, long scorned by green groups, have been working for years to put out a more environmentally friendly message.
After the Chairman of Gading Permai Small Farmers Business Group, Haji Usman Maun, reported to the Kampar police by RAPP at the forefront of the development of illegal palm oil plantations in the area which claimed by PT RAPP, the management of PT RAPP agreed to meet the Gading Permai community on May 1, 2006. However, instead of sending company officials to attend the meeting, PT RAPP mobilized 300 people in black uniforms to attack, destroy and burn down the people’s houses.
The report by the Indonesian-based Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) said that false assumptions about the origins and cost of wood used in emerging-market mills has led investors to channel billions of dollars into financially risky and environmentally destructive ventures.
However, APP did not reply to the call by Eyes on the Forest to APP to immediately stop sourcing any wood from anywhere within Libo Forest Block. As shown in the EoF report: Forest to Paper, Forest to Palm Oil and No Place to Live for Riau’s Elephants (published on 18 April), APP has been found by EoF to source wood from three areas in Libo Block, in addition to the Bina Daya Bintara concession. Therefore, EoF continues to call APP to immediately stop any logging or any sourcing of wood from anywhere inside Libo Block.
Jakarta, Hamburg, Helsinki, London, April 19, 2006 Hutan Gambut Sumatera Terancam Musnah, Harus Dilindungi
In the Report, Eyes on the Forest called PT. Bina Daya Bintara/APRIL to immediately stop controversial logging operations to prevent further conversion of potential elephant habitat, further disturbance that may be contributing to driving elephants out of Libo Forest Block to cause frequent human elephant conflicts in the area, legally questionable clearing of forest in peat deeper than 3m, clearing of forest designated as Protection Forest in the currently active Provincial Land Use Plan and possible lack of approval by Ministry of Forestry of locally issued conversion license. Eyes on the Forest also called APP to not receive wood originating from this operation.
NGOs have been collecting information on the actual owners or managers of the individual concessions for years and investigators have been tracking the wood from the concession to their final destination
Today Eyes on the Forest (EoF) released its report of December 2005 investigation . It confirmed that Asia Pulp and Paper’s (APP) partners logged in Giam Siak Kecil Forest Block; Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd’s (APRIL) partner logged in Kerumutan Forest Block; and PT. Sumatera Timber Utama Damai’s partners logged in the buffer zone of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park. In response to the findings, APP and APRIL have sent their comments to EoF.
Today Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Sumatran environmental NGOs, called on all companies who are clearcutting natural forests based on Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses (IUPHHK-HT) issued by Governors or Heads of Districts to immediately issue a moratorium on all such operations.
Today Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Sumatran environmental NGOs, called on all companies who are clearcutting natural forests based on Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses (IUPHHK-HT) issued by Governors or Heads of Districts to immediately issue a moratorium on all such operations.
News 25 Jul 2005 Eyes on the Forest Statement On June 3, 2005 , APRIL released a statement saying that all their suppliers have legal licenses. On 2 May 2005 , Eyes on the Forest investigators had reported that APRIL suppliers were operating with illegal licenses.
Pekanbaru, Indonesia (EoF News, May 27, 2005) - New investigations by Eyes on the Forest reveal continued forest destruction in APRIL's concession area. At least 216 hectare of natural peat swamp forest have recently been opened and have brought illegal loggers and squatters to the area.
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Palm oil, What consumers can do, APP, APRIL, HP, HPT, hutan, kawasan, kebun, kelapa sawit, kertas, Menhut, pulp, RTRWP, sawit, SK 673, tata ruang
EoF melakukan investigasi yang menemukan adanya dugaan penebangan hutan alam di lahan bergambut berkedalaman sedang hingga ...
Pemantauan Pembakaran Hutan dan Lahan di konsesi Izin Usaha Pemanfaatan Hasil Hutan Hutan Kayu Hutan Alam PT Hutani Sola Lestari - Oktober 2015
Ahead of COP Paris, two APRIL joint venture companies are clearing forested deep peatlands in the Kampar Peninsula Landscape, Riau.
WWF along with JPIK Riau publish a monitoring report on TLAS/SVLK certificate holders’ performance in concessions of PT Triomas FDI, PT SGP, PT RUJ,...
EoF mendatangi bagian selatan konsesi PT. RAPP Pulau Padang dan mengamati bahwa perusahaan melakukan penebangan hutan alam, tumpukan kayu hutan alam...
EoF concludes that all natural forest clearance by PT. RAPP in the fully peat covered Pulau Padang before and after 28 January 2014...
Asia Pacific Resources International Limited/Royal Golden Eagle, menebangi lagi hutan alam di Semenanjung Kampar melalui PT Triomas Forestry...
Sumatra, Carbon stock, Biodiversity loss, Pulp & paper, APRIL, commitment, deforestation, FCMP, HCV, HCVF, Kampar, peat, peatlands, ramin, RGE, Riau, Triomas, violation
Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL) / Royal Golden Eagle (RGE) pulps natural forest through its supplier, PT Triomas Forestry...
Eyes on the Forest merekomendasikan pembeli APRIL dan mitra bisnis lainnya menghindari dikaitkan dengan penghancuran hutan tropis dan gambut oleh...
Despite being in business for 17 years and having access to pulpwood supply concessions covering more than 10% of Riau province’s landmass (940,000...
Jakarta, May 4th 2012 – In April 2010, Anti Forest-Mafia Coalition of Indonesian NGOs reported 12 government officials, including Riau Governor and...
Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) dan Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), dua dari produsen kertas dan pulp terbesar dunia mengambil pasokan...
Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) dan Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), two of the world's largest pulp &paper; producers, source wood from...
PT RAPP, a subsidiary of Indonesian pulp and paper giant APRIL, is targeting the clearing of 23,914 hectares of peatland forest on Pulau Padang.
PT Sumatera Riang Lestari of Blok Pulau Rupat, a timber company affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) in Riau...
Laporan Lacak Balak, pergerakan kayu alam dari PT Mitra Kembang Selaras, pengembang HTI berafiliasi dengan APRIL, menuju pabrik pulp PT RAPP di...
PT Siak Raya Timber, a company affiliated to APRIL, continues clearcutting of natural forest in Tesso Nilo block as it shows that APRIL violates its...
Clearcutting by PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper, an affiliated company to APRIL, in Logas Selatan block (Sei Tasem), Riau, threatens Sumatran Tiger...
Natural forest clearance by PT Citra Sumber Sejahtera, affiliated to APRIL, becomes evidence of the group’s broken promise for its commitment to...
PT Sumatera Riang Lestari, affiliated company to APRIL, clear-cuts natural forests in Rupat Island, eliminates endangered Ramin habitat, threatens...
EoF had sent confirmation request on the report and APRIL responded to the coalition (see APRIL’s response to EoF).
APRIL Response to Eyes on the Forest September and October 2006 Reports
This background document provides an overview of the state of the forests in Sumatra's Riau province. It documents the province’s rapid rate of...