Earlier, activists painted "Forest Crime" and "Climate Crime" on
the hull of three palm oil tankers and a barge full of rainforest
timber. One Greenpeace activist is chained onto the anchor chain of
the Gran Couva that is carrying palm oil owned by the Wilmar
group to stop it from leaving Indonesia for the Netherlands.
"Today Greenpeace is taking action to expose the disastrous
impacts of the palm oil and logging industries on Indonesia's
peatlands, forests and on the global climate" said Bustar Maitar,
Greenpeace Southeast Asia Forest Campaigner. "Supplying the demand
for palm oil and other commodities can occur without further
deforestation and companies like Wilmar and Sinar Mas must support
the call for a moratorium on deforestation."
During the Esperanza's ongoing 'Forest for Climate' tour
of Indonesia, Greenpeace witnessed massive conversion of Papua's
tropical forests for oil palm plantation in a Sinar Mas concession
near Jayapura. Greenpeace also exposed ongoing forest destruction
for timber in Papua and discovered fresh forest clearances in
concessions in the peatland forests of Riau.
The rapid conversion of forests and peatlands for oil palm and
pulp plantations, and logging, is a major driver of deforestation
in Indonesia. The carbon released by these activities make
Indonesia the third largest greenhouse gas emitter on the planet.
The majority of Indonesia's palm oil exports are destined for
China, Europe and India.
"Indonesia's forests have far greater value standing, than
exported as palm oil and timber," said Maitar. "It is crucial that
Indonesia's forests are protected from the rampant expansion of the
palm oil and pulp industries in order to combat climate change,
stop biodiversity loss and protect the livelihoods of
forest-dependent peoples. This means an immediate moratorium on
deforestation and international funding through the United Nations
to protect forests."
The Esperanza started the Indonesian leg of its "Forest
for Climate" tour on 6 October in Jayapura, to shine the spotlight
on the rampant destruction of the Paradise Forests - the last
remaining ancient forests of Southeast Asia.
Greenpeace is calling on the Indonesian government to implement
an immediate moratorium on all forest conversion, including
expansion of oil palm plantations, industrial logging, and other
drivers of deforestation.
Greenpeace is an independent, global
campaigning organisation that acts to change attitudes and
behaviour, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote
peace.
Other contacts: Bustar Maitar, Forest Campaigner Greenpeace Southeast Asia, (onboard the Esperanza)
+62 813 44666135
Zulfahmi, Forest Campaigner Greenpeace Southeast Asia, (in Dumai)
+62 812 682 12 14
Nabiha Shahab, Media Campaigner Greenpeace Southeast Asia (onboard the Esperanza)
+62 813 14213432
Findi Kenandarti, Assistant Media Campaigner (in Dumai)
+62 816 1681840
Martin Baker, Communications Coordinator (Asia), Greenpeace International, (in Jakarta)
+62 813 1 5829513