The government of Indonesia has declared a new moratorium on the expansion of the palm oil and mining industries in the Leuser ecosystem. This area, located on the island of Sumatra, is the last place on Earth where Sumatran orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants coexist in the wild. As well as being a biodiversity hotspot,
The government of Indonesia has declared a new moratorium on the expansion of the palm oil and mining industries in the Leuser ecosystem. This area, located on the island of Sumatra, is the last place on Earth where Sumatran orangutans, tigers, rhinos and elephants coexist in the wild. As well as being a biodiversity hotspot, the area provides water and clean air to over four million people.
Media have reported that the ban includes a stop to all land clearing operations and a review of ongoing palm oil and mining operations in the area. “We’re still busy preparing the details of the moratorium. After the completion of this phase, we’ll release details of the next phase,” Indonesia’s Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya said. “However, I can say that a moratorium on the expansion of palm oil and mining in the Leuser Ecosystem is set in stone,” he added.
In fact, the Indonesian palm oil moratorium comes days after president Joko Widodo announced a nationwide stop on palm oil and mining concessions in forest areas. Coincidentally – or not – the announcement comes less than a month after Leonardo DiCaprio visited the Southeast Asian country, raising awareness on the threats palm oil plantations and mining pose to the Leuser ecosystem. “This announcement is a huge step forward in the fight for forests, climate, species and local communities,” DiCaprio announced.
The actor’s commitment to conserving Sumatra’s biodiversity isn’t new. Through his philanthropic foundation, last year the actor donated 3.2 million dollars to Rainforest Action Network and Haka to protect the Leuser ecosystem.