POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has declared that state authorities are carrying out a thorough and intensive investigation into the illegal use of the ministry's logo in a modified 2019 orangutan population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) document.
The results of an internal investigation, said the minister, confirm that the ministry logo - placed next to the IUCN logo on the document - was used without the approval of the ministry.
“The 2019 document was originally a 2016 final report, the substance of which has been modified to be aligned with certain interests. There was no approval to modify it. This means that the use of the ministry logo in the modified document, alongside that of IUCN, is illegal,” Minister Nurbaya explained in a discussion at the ministry building (Jul 24).
“The modification of the 2016 document and use of the ministry logo was clearly done without official approval from the ministry,” she stressed.
As such, Minister Nurbaya made it clear that she has ordered the authorized director general to write to the relevant parties and request that the 2019 modified document be withdrawn.
“There must be no illegal documents in the name of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry,” she warned.
Below is a screenshot of the front cover of the 2016 document (left), next to a screenshot of the modified document which was released in 2019 (right) and is an illegal publication, as pointed out by Minister Nurbaya.
The discovery of a new species of Tapanuli orangutan was announced in early November 2017, so the 2016 document obviously could not have covered this extremely rare species of the great ape.
According to Minister Nurbaya, the 2016 document was modified by incorporating an additional analysis on the Tapanuli orangutans and threats to them, as well as a map of their distribution, and then republished in 2019 without ministry approval, using the ministry’s logo also without permission.
Below are two photos of Tapanuli orangutans taken as part of the ministry’s regular monitoring efforts. These continue to be carried out to ensure that the Tapanuli orangutans don't face extinction, especially as a result of the Batang Toru hydropower project.
No single conclusion, no single call
Minister Nurbaya asserted that her ongoing efforts to closely observe all developments related to the Tapanuli orangutans and their habitat clearly prove that the Indonesian government is continuing to ensure that this newly-discovered species is not headed towards extinction and, on the contrary, its population continues to grow.
“There is nothing to worry about. I have repeatedly said that the Tapanuli orangutans are in no way facing extinction with the Batang Toru hydropower project there. In fact, we continue to observe the development of their population in the hope that it keeps growing,” the minister stated with confidence.
“I'm an expert in remote sensing and spatial planning. Scientifically, in terms of the species' habitat distribution, current land cover situation, and level of land use management and monitoring, it is certain that there will be no extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans,” she added
Minister Nurbaya also appealed for science not to be used to conclude that the Batang Toru hydropower project is like a monster threatening to destroy the Tapanuli orangutans.
“It is not relevant to jump to a single conclusion using scientific reasons, and campaign with a single call demanding a stop to the hydropower project,” she emphasized.
“We also work with scientific tools. Gradually and measurably, we continue our monitoring and will not remain silent if the hydropower project takes a path that will lead to the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans. This needs to be noted,” she urged.
The minister underlined that strict measures, sourced from a scientific basis and regulations, are regularly conveyed to PT NSHE (the project developer) to be followed up on the project-level site.
Minister Nurbaya reaffirmed that the ultimate goal of all the efforts being undertaken is to ensure that the development and operations of the Batang Toru hydropower project remain within the corridor of avoiding the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans.
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POLICY
JAKARTA (FORESTHINTS.NEWS) - Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya has declared that state authorities are carrying out a thorough and intensive investigation into the illegal use of the ministry's logo in a modified 2019 orangutan population and habitat viability assessment (PHVA) document.
The results of an internal investigation, said the minister, confirm that the ministry logo - placed next to the IUCN logo on the document - was used without the approval of the ministry.
“The 2019 document was originally a 2016 final report, the substance of which has been modified to be aligned with certain interests. There was no approval to modify it. This means that the use of the ministry logo in the modified document, alongside that of IUCN, is illegal,” Minister Nurbaya explained in a discussion at the ministry building (Jul 24).
“The modification of the 2016 document and use of the ministry logo was clearly done without official approval from the ministry,” she stressed.
As such, Minister Nurbaya made it clear that she has ordered the authorized director general to write to the relevant parties and request that the 2019 modified document be withdrawn.
“There must be no illegal documents in the name of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry,” she warned.
Below is a screenshot of the front cover of the 2016 document (left), next to a screenshot of the modified document which was released in 2019 (right) and is an illegal publication, as pointed out by Minister Nurbaya.
The discovery of a new species of Tapanuli orangutan was announced in early November 2017, so the 2016 document obviously could not have covered this extremely rare species of the great ape.
According to Minister Nurbaya, the 2016 document was modified by incorporating an additional analysis on the Tapanuli orangutans and threats to them, as well as a map of their distribution, and then republished in 2019 without ministry approval, using the ministry’s logo also without permission.
Below are two photos of Tapanuli orangutans taken as part of the ministry’s regular monitoring efforts. These continue to be carried out to ensure that the Tapanuli orangutans don't face extinction, especially as a result of the Batang Toru hydropower project.
No single conclusion, no single call
Minister Nurbaya asserted that her ongoing efforts to closely observe all developments related to the Tapanuli orangutans and their habitat clearly prove that the Indonesian government is continuing to ensure that this newly-discovered species is not headed towards extinction and, on the contrary, its population continues to grow.
“There is nothing to worry about. I have repeatedly said that the Tapanuli orangutans are in no way facing extinction with the Batang Toru hydropower project there. In fact, we continue to observe the development of their population in the hope that it keeps growing,” the minister stated with confidence.
“I'm an expert in remote sensing and spatial planning. Scientifically, in terms of the species' habitat distribution, current land cover situation, and level of land use management and monitoring, it is certain that there will be no extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans,” she added
Minister Nurbaya also appealed for science not to be used to conclude that the Batang Toru hydropower project is like a monster threatening to destroy the Tapanuli orangutans.
“It is not relevant to jump to a single conclusion using scientific reasons, and campaign with a single call demanding a stop to the hydropower project,” she emphasized.
“We also work with scientific tools. Gradually and measurably, we continue our monitoring and will not remain silent if the hydropower project takes a path that will lead to the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans. This needs to be noted,” she urged.
The minister underlined that strict measures, sourced from a scientific basis and regulations, are regularly conveyed to PT NSHE (the project developer) to be followed up on the project-level site.
Minister Nurbaya reaffirmed that the ultimate goal of all the efforts being undertaken is to ensure that the development and operations of the Batang Toru hydropower project remain within the corridor of avoiding the extinction of the Tapanuli orangutans.
RELATED STORIES
