Greenpeace tackles climate change at frontline of Indonesian rainforest destruction

Jakarta, Indonesia — This morning, fifty Greenpeace activists took action to prevent the destruction of Indonesia’s rainforests and called on world leaders to end global deforestation, which is responsible for about a fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions (1). The call came as negotiators meet in Barcelona, Spain for the final round of talks before December’s critical UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

Notes to Editor

(1) Calculated from: IPCC (2007). IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group III, Final Chapter 1. Page 104. Figure 1.2: Sources of global CO2 emissions, 1970-2004 (only direct emissions by sector). http://www.ipcc.ch/ipccreports/ar4-wg3.htm

(2) Most of the destruction of Indonesia’s rainforests and peatlands is caused by two main pulp and paper giants; Asia Pulp & Paper (APP – Sinar Mas) and its main rival, Asia Pacific Resources International Holding Limited (APRIL - RGE). Combined, these two companies control over 73% of Indonesia’s total pulp capacity, and control two of the world’s largest pulp mills.
The ‘conversion’ of forested peatland is a three-stage process:
• Usually, the most valuable trees are logged for timber.
• A network of canals is built in order to remove logs and drain the peat so that it is suitable to grow plantations of oil palm for vegetable oil or acacia trees for pulp and paper.
• The remaining forest is cleared, which causes the peat to dry out further and to release more CO2, (especially in El Niño years).

(3) WRI 2008. Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) Version 6.0 (Washington, DC: World Resources Institute) http://cait.wri.org <http://cait.wri.org/>

(4) Greenpeace calculation based on Wahyunto, S. Ritung dan H. Subagjo (2003). Maps of Area of Peatland Distribution and Carbon Content in Sumatera, 1990 – 2002. Wetlands International - Indonesia Programme & Wildlife Habitat Canada (WHC). See also: Kampar Peninsula as a peat swamp forest conservation priority Briefing for NGO use only by Otto Miettinen, 21 July, 2007 http://www.maanystavat.fi/april/resourcesforkampar2007/Miettinen2007longKamparPeninsula.pdf
(5) Greenpeace estimates that ending global deforestation requires industrialised countries to invest $42 billion (€30 billion) annually in forest protection.

(6) For further information about the release of the fund proposal, please call Cindy Baxter, Greenpeace International communications at the Barcelona meeting +31 646197332.

For further information please see: http://www.greenpeace.org/climatedefenders

Background media briefing on Indonesia’s forests and climate change is available at: www.greenpeace.org/climatedefenders/rainforests-and-climate-change <http://www.greenpeace.org/climatedefenders/rainforests-and-climate-change>

Vision, video, photos, report information

In Europe: Pat Venditti, Head of the forest campaign, Greenpeace International Matilda Bradshaw, Greenpeace International communications +31 In Indonesia: Bustar Maitar, Greenpeace Southeast Asia forest campaigner: +62 81344666135 Daniel Kessler, Greenpeace US media campaigner: +1 5107615455 Mélanie Laurent is available for interview on request. Please contact: +62 81 385 854 522 or Nabiha Shahab (Abby) on +62 81314213432 Photos, B roll and a video feature package are available from: Maarten van Rouveroy, Greenpeace International video producer, +31 (0) 646197322 John Novis, Greenpeace International photography, +44 (0) 7801 615 889