app-watch

Ursünde im Urwald

2009-11-17T08:49:00.000-08:00

In den Sümpfen der Insel Sumatra sollen riesige Wälder gerodet werden. Kurz vor der Kopenhagener Klimakonferenz würde damit einer der größten Kohlenstoff-Speicher Südostasiens in Flammen aufgehen. Umweltschützer kampieren im Urwald, um den Raubbau zu stoppen - ein aussichtsloser Kampf. Mehr

APP logging road threatens Orang Rimba

2009-07-09T15:06:00.000-07:00

PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Encroachment and forest fires threatened Bukit Tigapuluh landscape ecosystem and marginalized indigenous Orang Rimba who protested logging road built by Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) associated company.

Husin, a head family of Orang Rimba who inhabits in Suo-suo village of southern Bukit Tigapuluh, in Jambi, complained over 45-km logging road that constructed by PT Wira Karya Sakti (WKS), an APP/Sinar Mas Group associated company.

“Forest clearing by the company (WKS) has affected to our livelihood which is deteriorating now,” he told Eyes on the Forest early June. Husin and generally Orang Rimba are dependent upon natural resources such forest products to survive and make money for their livelihood.

NGOs plan to sue the police for closing cases

2008-12-29T21:10:00.000-08:00

NGOs plan to sue the police for closing cases

Wednesday, 24 December 2008

PEKANBARU (EoF News)— Environmental groups slammed the Riau Police and Prosecutors Office who closed the cases of 13 timber and pulp companies and pledged it would sue the police for the suspension.

Jikalahari coordinator, Susanto Kurniawan, said yesterday (23/12/2008) that his environmental NGOs network would prepare lawyers to take action against the police’s decision, Tribun Pekanbaru daily reported Wednesday (24/12/2008).

The Riau Police Chief Hadiatmoko announced in Riau Prosecutors Office, Pekanbaru, on Monday that the police halted the probe of illegal logging cases of 13 companies and proceeded another pulpwood plantation company to prosecution. Hadiatmoko said that the witnesses from two ministries explained that the companies had legal license and there is any damage done by the firms.

Susanto said that his network who filed the cases to the police last year admitted that the companies had legal licenses of pulpwood development, but they had flaws as the licenses issued by District Head which against the Government Regulation Number 34/2002, Kompas daily reported (24/12/2008).

In separate occasion, parliamentarian from Riau, Azlaini Agus, of House of Representatives’ Commission III, said she had met Indonesia Police Chief, General Bambang Hendarso Danuri, in Jakarta on Tuesday discussing the cases closure, Tribun Pekanbaru reported today (24/12/2008).

Azlaini said that Bambang Hendarso told her that the decision is conducted by the Riau Police due to the Riau Prosecutors Office rejected the presence of two expert witnesses proposed by the police who come from Institute of Agriculture of Bogor (IPB) and University of Gadjah Mada (UGM).

She said that the Prosecutors Office should accept the two witnesses as previously occurred in a North Sumatera’s District Court which prosecuted Adelin Lis, a businessman who charged with and penalized for illegal logging verdict.

“It [the decision] is weird,” she said adding that the Prosecutors Office should had accepted the existence of two expert witnesses and proceeded the prosecution to the court.

Azlaini suspected there might be a grand ‘scenario’ behind the termination of illegal logging cases involving the 13 companies by the police, Tribun daily reported. She said that Riau timber companies recently met Vice President Jusuf Kalla where PT RAPP (APRIL’s subsidiary) complained that it would lay off thousands of workers due to the company faced shortage of pulp raw material.

Meanwhile, Johny Setiawan Mundung of Walhi Riau, urged the government to dismiss the Chief of Riau Police and Riau Prosecutors Office following the decision to close the environmental cases. “They harmed the sense of justice of Riau people,” Johny Mundung told Koran Tempo daily (24/12/2008).

In Jakarta, Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban said his office respected the police decision to issue a Letter of Order to Stop Investigations (SP3) into the companies, The Jakarta Post reported (24/12/2008).

"However, we hope the legal action taken against the businessmen (from the firms) continues," he said to Antara in Jakarta on Tuesday.

President Yudhoyono

Spokesperson of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, told the press yesterday in Jakarta that the President didn’t know that the police had closed the Riau illegal logging cases, Kompas.com reported (23/12/2008).

In September 2007, President Yudhoyono had set up a joint inter-departmental team to tackle Riau illegal logging cases in mediating the discrepancies occurred between the police and the Ministry of Forestry. The team then recommended in November 2007 there should be legal action taken against the 14 companies.

The 14 companies divided by the police into two groups of PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP, a subsidiary of APRIL), and of PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP, a company associated to APP/Sinar Mas Forestry).

From IKPP are: PT. Satria Perkasa Agung, PT. Bina Duta Laksana, PT. Arara Abadi, PT. Suntara Gajapati, PT. Inhil Hutan Pratama, PT. Anugrah Bumi Sentosa and PT. Ruas Utama Jaya. The latter’s case proceeded to the court.

From RAPP are: PT. Madukoro, PT. RAPP, PT. Bukit Batabuh Sei Indah, PT. Nusa Prima Manunggal, PT. Citra Sumber Mandiri, PT. Mitra Kembang Selaras, and PT. Merbau Pelalawan Lestari.

Protest against fire-bombing of Indonesian village linked to plantation company

2008-12-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Watch Indonesia! e.V./ Rettet den Regenwald e. V. :

Dear friends,

We are writing over the Christmas season because we have just received reports of an extreme and unprecedented act of violence against villagers in Riau Province in Sumatra. On 18th December, the village of Suluk Bongkal was attacked by hundreds of armed police and paramilitaries with fire-arms and teargas and fire-bombed from a helicopter. Eye-witness reports suggest that napalm may have been used, although it has been impossible to verify this. Hundreds of houses have been burned down, two toddlers were killed, hundreds have fled, others were detained, and refugees later had stones dropped on them from a helicopter. This serious human rights abuse is linked to the plantation company Sinar Mas and in particular to a pulp and paper plantation run by their subsidiary, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP).
Please go to

http://www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/index.php

and sign a protest letter to the Indonesian authority and ask them to guarantee the rights of the population and to ensure that those responsible for the violence are punished. Many thanks.
Best regards,

Almuth Ernsting
Biofuelwatch

Marianne Klute
Watch Indonesia! e.V.
Arbeitsgruppe für Demokratie, Menschenrechte
und Umweltschutz in Indonesien und Osttimor
Planufer 92 d Tel./Fax +49-30-698 179 38
Berlin

Reinhard Behrend
Rettet den Regenwald e. V.
Friedhofsweg 28
22337 Hamburg
040 4103804
www.regenwald.org

Asia Pulp & Paper threatens historic pact

2008-10-25T09:58:00.001-07:00

Saturday, 18 October 2008

Asia Pulp & Paper and associated companies threaten historic pact to save Sumatra’s ecosystems and tigers

EoF Press Release 20 October 2008

Pekanbaru, INDONESIA – Just 10 days after Indonesia announced a commitment to save Sumatra’s critical ecosystems at the IUCN World Conservation Congress, an investigation finds that companies associated with one of the world’s largest paper companies, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), have built a 45-kilometer, legally questionable logging highway through prime tiger habitat in Sumatra.

The forest destruction by APP and associated companies, under the umbrella of its holding group, Sinar Mas Group (SMG), is taking place in the Senepis peat forest of central Sumatra, according to a new investigative report released today by Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of Jikalahari, Walhi Riau and WWF-Indonesia. The forest clearing puts at risk local communities as well as one of the critically endangered Sumatran tiger’s last strongholds, as the shrinking forest brings tigers into increasing conflict with local communities.

Eyes on the Forest field investigations found that the logging highway passes through natural forest, a proposed protected area and a deep peat area with potential massive carbon stores. This is the third controversial and legally questionable logging road discovered being built by APP/SMG-associated companies in the last year.

“Unfortunately, this logging project is just the latest in a continuing pattern of wholesale natural forest destruction by APP/SMG and its associates in Sumatra,” said Johny Setiawan Mundung, Executive Director of Walhi Riau. “Our field investigators found that APP and partners have completed a 45-kilometer highway through the Senepis peat forest and paved nearly half of it already, even though we could find no permit for the road.”

The revelations come less than two weeks after the Indonesian government announced a historic commitment to protect the natural forests and ecosystems of Sumatra island, putting the company’s actions increasingly at odds with public and private efforts to protect Sumatra’s species-rich forests to slow climate change and protect biodiversity.

Senepis and other Sumatran peat forests are a globally significant carbon store; the carbon-rich peat soil is so deep that simply cutting the trees or disturbing the soil releases enough carbon emissions to impact global climate change.

The APP/SMG-associated companies appear to be preparing infrastructure for when Riau Province, where the Senepis forest is located, allows natural forest clearing again. There is a province-wide de facto logging moratorium in place as Riau Police conduct an illegal logging investigation involving APP/SMG associated companies and others.

The two APP/SMG-associated logging concession holders involved in the clearing, PT. Ruas Utama Jaya and PT. Suntara Gajapati, are among 14 timber and pulp companies implicated in the ongoing prosecution by provincial police for allegedly committing environmental and forest crimes. Since the Riau Police launched their investigation in 2007, Jikalahari and Walhi Riau have filed reports of such alleged criminal acts by the companies and pushed for the law enforcement on it.

“The building of this road has resulted in a massive, 50-meter-wide gash of opened forest along the 45 kilometers,” said Hariansyah Usman, deputy coordinator of Jikalahari. “The road splits the Senepis peat forest in two, releasing significant amounts of climate-altering carbon emissions from the clearing and from drainage canals on both sides.”

In addition, the clearing that has already taken place in Senepis by APP/SMG-associates -- mainly since about 1999 -- has considerably shrunk the size of the forest, which has led to an increase in human-tiger conflict in the area. Riau is a stronghold for the Sumatran tiger, of which fewer than 400 survive in the wild.

Legally questionable forest clearing by APP/SMG-affiliated companies has been well-documented in central Sumatra. Previous reports by NGOs this year found that APP/SMG- associated companies are threatening an additional two important natural forest areas in Sumatra by opening new logging roads and clearing natural forest along them: the Kampar peatland forest and Bukit Tigapuluh dry lowland forest block, which is critical for orangutans, tigers, elephants and the indigenous peoples, the Orang Rimba.

“Major paper customers all over the globe have cut ties with APP because of its involvement in unsustainable and likely illegal activities,” said Nazir Foead, director of corporate engagement at WWF-Indonesia. “We call on APP/SMG and their associates to stop this unsustainable clearing of our forests and to start behaving as a responsible corporate citizen. We urge current and future buyers and investors not to do any business with APP until that time.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

· *The complete report can be found on www.EyesontheForest.or.id. Photos and maps to accompany this story are also available.

*Among the companies that have stopped buying from APP because of its business practices in Sumatra are Staples Inc., the largest office retailer in the United States; Richoh and Fuji Xerox Groups, both headquartered in Japan; Metro Group in Germany and Woolworths of Australia. In addition, Forest Stewardship Council formally dissociated itself from APP in 2007, as did Rainforest Alliance.

*APP China is working to launch an initial public offering (IPO) on the Chinese stock market soon. Conservationists in China and Indonesia are concerned that the IPO would provide funds for APP to continue deforestation in Indonesia on an even larger scale.

Ex-service head: I have no knowledge of forestry

2008-07-09T15:02:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 08 July 2008

PEKANBARU (EoF News)—A former Riau Forestry Service head insisted on a corruption trial in Corruption Crime Court in Jakarta last week that he just signed logging license of Annual Working Plan (RKT) for companies and handed over the responsibility to his subordinates.

Media reports said that Burhanuddin Husin, former Riau Forestry Service Head and now Kampar District Head, told a corruption court in Jakarta last week (4/7/2008) that he had nothing to do with verdict of misusing of logging licenses to clear natural forests which prosecute the Pelalawan District Head Azmun Jaafar.

“I just signed [them]. Beyond this I have no idea since the technical matter is my staff’s job,” Burhanuddin told judges led by Krisna Menon on the court, Riau Terkini website reported Friday.

The district head named suspect and requested for testimony as a witness on the case of misusing logging licenses for 15 companies that charged district head Azmun Jaafar.

Riau Terkini reported that Burhanuddin was questioned for 60 minutes where he mostly said he did not know on the authority of his position as Forestry Service head.

On its headline last weekend (5/7/2008), Tribun Pekanbaru daily said that the judges of corruption case got upset with answers uttered by Burhanuddin due to dubious statements.

“I just legalize [RKT, annual working plan]. On technical matter it is done by my staff,” he said as quoted by Tribun Pekanbaru as saying (5/7/2008).

The former forestry service head said that his subordinates should be responsible for technical matters in legalizing RKT plan. The RKT permit issued by the Provincial Government would allow companies to clear natural forest for conversion into pulpwood plantation.

When asked by presiding judge if the official has knowledge of forestry, Burhanuddin said: “To be honest I don’t understand forestry, I am just an economic graduate,” Tribun Pekanbaru reported.

“You are just Head of Forestry Service, please don’t make any excuses. After being appointed Head of Forestry Service, you should adapt to such a new job,” blasted judge Made Hendra Kusuma following doubtful answers expressed by Burhanuddin.

Prosecutor Sriyono asked the suspect of RKT issuance. “So you issued RKT licenses without legality basis, didn’t you?” Then Burhanuddin said yes. “So, it’s messed up, isn’t it?” the prosecutor asked back.

Azmun detained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in December 2007 and has been prosecuted since May this year. KPK accused Azmun of causing the State’s loss by Rp1.2 trillion by issuing logging licenses to convert natural forests to pulpwood plantation.

Reports said that incumbent Riau Governor Rusli Zainal was scheduled to be questioned by KPK on Azmun’s case last week, but he failed to attend it due to his medical check-up as his preparation to run for upcoming gubernatorial election in September this year.

Azmun on Rusli Zainal

Azmun told Koran Tempo daily (3/7/2008) on an interview that the officials who issued RKT licenses to be responsible.

“Out of 15 companies that their licenses I issued have gained RKT legalization released by Riau Forestry Service heads, they are Syuhada Tasman, Asral Rachman, Sudirno, and Burhanuddin Husein.

Then there are also RKTs that legalized by Riau Governor Rusli Zainal. By those RKTs, the companies have conducted wood clearing in the forests. According to me, all sides who involved in legalizing RKTs should be asked for their responsibility, including Rusli Zainal,” Azmun told Koran Tempo daily.

EoF learns that the 15 companies Azmun mentioned are affiliated to Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and another one is unidentified.

EoF learns that the 15 companies which obtained licenses issued by Azmun and linked to corruption practices as probed currently by KPK as follows:

APRIL: CV. Bhakti Praja Mulia 5,800 hectares, CV. Mutiara Lestari 4,000 ha, CV. Tuah Negeri 1,500 ha, KUD Bina Jaya Langgam 1,887 ha, CV. Alam Lestari 3,330 ha, CV. Riau Bina Insani 4,300 ha, CV. Harapan Jaya 4,800 ha, PT. Nusa Prima Manunggal 4,412 ha, PT. Merbau Pelalawan Lestari 5,590 ha, PT. Putri Lindung Bulan 2,500 ha, PT. Selaras Abadi Utama 13,600 ha, PT. Bukit Raya Pelalawan 3,200 ha, and PT. Riau Bina Insani 7,275 ha;

APP: Putra Riau Perkasa 21,650 ha, and unidentified affiliation: PT. Sinar Deli Pratama 3,000 ha.

New APP Logging Road Threatens One of World’s Biggest Carbon-Storing Forests

2008-03-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru, INDONESIA – 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.

More

Sumatra's forests at risk

2008-02-27T15:00:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Turning the forests and peat swamps of just one Sumatran province into pulpwood and palm oil plantations is generating more annual greenhouse gas emissions than the Netherlands and is rapidly driving the province's elephants into extinction, a new study by WWF and partners has found.

"We found that Sumatra's elephants and tigers are disappearing even faster than their forests are in Riau," said WWF International's Species Programme Director, Dr Susan Lieberman.
"This is happening because as wildlife search for new habitat and food sources, they increasingly come into conflict with people and are killed," she explained.

Key study analyses impact

The study found that in central Sumatra's Riau Province 4.2 million hectares of tropical forests and peat swamp have been cleared in the last 25 years.
Forest loss, degradation and, decomposition and fires are, on average, equivalent to 122% percent of the Netherlands total annual emissions, 58% of Australia's annual emissions, 39% of annual UK emissions and 26% of annual German emissions.
Riau was chosen for the study because it is home to vast peatlands estimated to hold Southeast Asia's largest store of carbon, and contains some of the most critical habitat for Sumatran elephants and tigers. It also has Indonesia's highest deforestation rate, substantially driven by the operations of global paper giants Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL).

More

Staples Cuts Off Paper Supplier

2008-02-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

Green-Minded Staples Ends Ties With Asia Pulp & Paper
By TOM WRIGHT
February 8, 2008; Page A4 Office-supplies retailer Staples Inc. has severed all contracts with Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd., one of the world's largest paper companies, in a move that shows concerns over forest destruction and global warming are having an impact on big U.S. paper buyers. Until recently, Staples sourced about 9% of its total paper supply from APP and used the paper for its own Staples-branded stock, mainly photocopy and office paper. Staples had stuck with the company even as other large paper sellers in the U.S., Europe and Asia, including Office Depot Inc., stopped buying from APP in recent years because of alleged environmental misdeeds. The Framingham, Mass., company canceled its contracts late last month, said Mark Buckley, vice president for environmental issues at Staples. Staples is expected to announce the move next week. "We decided engagement was not possible anymore," Mr. Buckley said. "We haven't seen any indication that APP has been making any positive strides" to protect the environment. Remaining a customer of APP was "at great peril to our brand," he added. APP representatives didn't return calls seeking comment. In the past, it has said it is moving toward relying for all of its wood on plantation trees but needs to cut natural forest to maintain production levels. APP runs one of Asia's largest pulp mills on the Indonesian island of Sumatra and has operations in China. The retailers worry that APP is destroying natural rainforest to feed its mills. Concerns over rainforest destruction have been heightened in recent months because new data show that Indonesia is the world's third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide, the heat-trapping greenhouse gas, behind the U.S. and China. Fires set to clear natural forests and forested peat swamps after they have been logged are the major cause of those emissions. APP last year sought permission to use an environmentally friendly logo issued by the Forest Stewardship Council. In October, after inquiries from The Wall Street Journal about APP's planned use of the logo, the FSC barred the company from using it.

Write to Tom Wright at tom.wright@dowjones.com

APP Forest Clearing in Bukit Tigapuluh

2008-01-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, 08 January 2008
APP Forest Clearing in Bukit Tigapuluh Threatens Lives of Local Communities and Sumatra’s Endangered Species
A Joint Press Release by WARSI FZS ZSL PKHS WWF
Pekanbaru & Jambi, INDONESIA -- The destruction of high biodiversity forest in Sumatra’s Bukit Tigapuluh landscape – including the extinction of the endangered Sumatran tiger, elephant, and orangutan- is now in front of our eyes. The Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape is severely threatened due to on going massive clearance and a future plan by the Ministry of Forestry to convert the expired Selective Timber Concession (HPH) through the giant pulp and paper company Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) and its partners.
read more

Pelalawan District Head detained

2007-12-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)—Pelalawan District Head Tengku Azmun Jaafar was detained by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta on Friday (14/12/2007) in charging with alleged corruption by issuing logging licenses to 15 companies. read more

The bog barons: Indonesia's carbon catastrophe

2007-12-09T20:44:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 05 December 2007
By Fred Pearce, New Scientist -- 1 December 2007
I AM standing in the heart of the world's second largest tropical peat swamp, the Kampar bog in central Sumatra, watching the swamp's water drain away along a small canal. Across the western side of the bog there are dozens more drains. The peat bog is bleeding to death before me.
Read more

FSC's 'Green' Label for Wood Products Gets Growing Pains

2007-10-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

By TOM WRIGHT and JIM CARLTON
October 30, 2007; Page B1
The environmental group that runs a widely recognized labeling system to identify "green" wood and paper products has acknowledged that some companies using its label are destroying pristine forests and says it plans to overhaul its rules. Read more

House’s Commission VII criticize APP, APRIL subsidiaries

2007-10-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 09 October 2007 Pekanbaru
(EoF News)—House of Representatives’ Environmental Commission dismissed a general hearing with PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP) on Monday due to insufficient data provided by the company, Koran Tempo daily reported today (9/10/2007). Sonny Keraf, who led the hearing, concluded that the Commission VII would visit Riau to ensure whether PT IKPP and PT RAPP could be involved in illegal logging practice as the police probed currently, Riau Pos daily reported today. It is for the third time the hearing between Commission VII and PT RAPP (subsidiary of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited /APRIL) was postponed following the company’s management no-show two weeks ago. Read more

Pulp executives no show, MPs blast

2007-10-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

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). More

MP: Riau forests logging moratorium needed

2007-10-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

MP: Riau forests logging moratorium needed
Tuesday, 02 October 2007

Pekanbaru (EoF News)—A member of parliament who tackles forestry sector urges the Ministry of Forestry to stop issuing any logging license in Riau and review permits granted to companies, the official House of Representatives website (dpr.go.id) reported Monday (1/10/2007). More

Australian Supermarket Woolworths Withdraws APP sourced Tissue Products

2007-10-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has withdrawn tens of thousands of units of tissue and paper products after ceding to NGO pressure over its links with an Indonesian paper supplier. NGOs have made allegations that a range of products labeled with a “Sustainable Forest Fibre” logo were sourced from unsustainable forestry practices. Woolworths sources these products from Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). The Australian Plantation Products and Paper Industry Council (A3P) issued a press release in which it called on Woolworths to re-examine its supply chain. A3P has urged consumers to buy products with fibre sourced from sustainably managed plantations certified under internationally recognised sustainable forest management certification schemes such as the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (includes the Australian Forestry Standard) and the Forest Stewardship Council. Woolworths is now investigating the claims made in the logo. It has engaged WWF Australia to assist the company to examine its supply chain. More

Source: Forestry & Development E-News

Closure concerns for paper groups.

2007-08-22T09:36:00.000-07:00

Financial Times (UK)
August 20, 2007

Closure concerns for paper groups.

By JOHN AGLIONBY and TAUFAN HIDAYAT

Two of Asia's biggest pulp and paper companies have warned they
could close within two months with the loss of up to 1m jobs
unless Indonesia's police and forestry department resolve a
dispute over alleged illegal logging.

Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper, a subsidiary of Asia Pulp and Paper,
and Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper, part of the Raja Garuda Mas
group, have been caught up in an eight-month police operation to
stamp out illegal logging in Riau province in Sumatra, where
they are both based.

The forestry department has accused the police of enforcing
out-of-date laws and punishing people operating legally.

More than 1m people could lose their jobs if the companies
close, and analysts warn the dispute is having a chilling effect
on Indonesia's cool investment climate.

Indah Kiat, which exported pulp and paper products worth about
Dollars 3bn last year, and Riau Andalan, almost Dollars 2bn,
employ 540,000 workers directly.

Brigadier Suciptadi, Riau's police chief, said licensed
companies were free to operate. "The ban has only been imposed
on companies which are violating environmental regulations, such
as cutting trees in natural forests or conservation areas," he
said. "Based on our investigations, there is a network operating
that is committing corporate crimes."

He declined to say if Indah Kiat or Riau Andalan were involved
in illegal activities. Both companies insist they obtain all
their wood from legal sources.

Joice Budikusuma, an executive of Sinar Mas, which owns APP,
said Indah Kiat's supply rate was down by almost three-quarters
because the law enforcement operation was so harsh that even
contractors with all the correct licences were afraid to cut and
transport logs. "We only have one month's stock left," she said.

Rudy Fajar, chief executive of Riau Andalan, said his company's
supplies would probably last until October.

Sofyan Wanandi, the head of the country's employers'
association, said he was not surprised by the dispute. "This
fight between the police and the forestry ministry is creating
all sorts of problems and there's no end to the dispute in
sight."

He warned it could well hit inward investment. "How can you ask
for investment from overseas when you can't even settle disputes
with local companies?"

Industrial Forest Plantations in Kalimantan

2007-08-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

New CIFOR publication:
The Revival of Industrial Forest Plantations in Indonesia’s Kalimantan Provinces
Will they help eliminate fiber shortfalls at Sumatran pulp mills or feed the China market?
More

"Banks, Pulp and People" - new report on controversial projects in pulp industry
Urgewald targets pulp industry in new report and website
More

Probe into illegal logging cases on progress

2007-07-21T12:52:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)--- The Indonesian National Police said that the probe of illegal logging cases in Riau would be finalized before September this year where all cases would be brought to the court.

The police would meet the Prosecutors Office in the end of month discussing the steps to take further actions to bring the illegal logging cases to the court.

The illegal logging probe is on progress as a team led by the Police Headquarters's Intelligence Unit held aerial observation to several HTI (industrial timber plantation) concessions in Riau that allegedly involved in illegal logging and environmental crime accusations.

In Jakarta General Sutanto, the Chief of National Police, said Monday that the legal action on Riau illegal logging that conducted by his personnel would complete within a month, Riau Mandiri daily reported Thursday.

Sutanto reaffirmed that the police would keep probing the illegal logging cases that occur in some provinces including Riau. "Whoever allegedly breach the laws would be detained and taken to the court," he said as quoted by Media Indonesia daily as saying.

"The Chief of National Police asked us to continue investigation, as those for years have been untouchable we will touch [soon]," said Head of Police Crime Intelligence Unit, Commissioner General Bambang Hendarso Danuri in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Bambang Hendarso said that the police would charge the perpetrators and other suspects of illegal logging cases with several verdicts including Foresty Law, Environmental Law, Money Laundering Law and Corruption Law, Riau Terkini reported Thursday.

The aerial observation over suspected companies started Tuesday when the police officers accompanied by representatives from Forestry Ministry, Environmental Ministry and NGOs, local media reported. There are six districts that observed by the team in six days covering Rokan Hilir, Rokan Hulu, Pelalawan, Indragiri Hulu, Indragiri Hilir and Bengkalis.

On Tuesday they visited Senepis block where concessions of PT Ruas Utama Jaya and PT Suntara Gaja Pati, both subsidiaries of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP). On the following day the team observed concessions of PT Madukoro and PT Nusa Prima Manunggal, partners of Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL), located in Kampar Peninsula block or Pelalawan district.

The four companies are some of 22 firms that now probed by the police and accused of committing illegal logging and violating environmental crime.

The Chief of National Police would meet Attorney General Hendarman Supandji on 30 July to discuss further steps to bring the suspects to justice, said A.H. Harahap, the Prosecutor for General Crime of the Prosecutors Office.

Chief of Riau Police, Brig.-Gen. Sutjiptadi, said that the state inflicted the loss of trillions rupiah due to illegal loggings and environmental damage. He said HTI (industrial timber plantation) licenses granted by the government in Riau mostly located in protected area and natural forests.

Meanwhile, Golkar Party appointed Muladi, former Minister of Law, as the lawyer to defend the Governor of Riau and four district heads who would be summoned by the police over illegal logging cases.

More APP subsidiary's executives named suspects

2007-07-17T18:09:00.001-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- More executives of Asia Pulp & Paper's partner companies are probed by Riau Police as PT Suntara Gaja Pati (SGP) directors named suspects, a daily reported. More

Police say more officials, companies summoned

2007-07-17T18:08:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- The Riau Police Office has reportedly submitted a request to the President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to summon Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban as the witness over issuance of 17 licenses of Selective Logging Concession in the province, a newspaper said. More

3 APP subsidiary's directors named suspects over illegal logging

2007-07-17T18:07:00.001-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News)--- Three directors of PT Arara Abadi, subsidiary of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), were named suspects by the Riau Police Office over illegal logging practices causing the loss of natural forests in Riau. In another case, two former Riau Forestry Service's heads also named suspects for allegedly issuing unlawful logging licenses and other fake documents. More

APP destroys tiger habitat

2007-07-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News) – Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra releases its Investigative Report March/April/June 2007 today. The EoF Investigation found Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) to be involved in forest clearance operations in some concessions in Giam Siak Kecil, Kampar Peninsula, and Senepis forest blocks. More

District Administration stops APP subsidiary's operation

2007-06-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 13 June 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)--- Rokan Hilir district administration told PT Ruas Utama Jaya, a company associated to Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), to stop its questionable logging operations that protested by communities from three sub-districts. Meanwhile, the local environmental agency says that PT RUJ did not comply with the procedure in conducting the environment assessment
analysis (Amdal).
Read more

APP's contractor hires child

2007-06-21T15:45:00.000-07:00

Friday, 15 June 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- Local newspapers reported today that a contractor working for Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) subsidiary's concession in Kampar district, Riau, hired a child for acacia plantation as well as did not pay the workers' wages for five months. The workers told that they eat monkey in an attempt to survive in the plantation.
Read more

Police probe 10 APP's companies over illegal logging

2007-06-21T15:41:00.000-07:00

Monday, 18 June 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News)-- Environmentalists in Riau urged the provincial police to immediately probe the illegal logging allegedly committed by Asia Pulp & Paper's subsidiary, PT Arara Abadi, in Kampar Peninsula as found by Eyes on the Forest coalition's investigative report published
this month.
Read more

APP involved in forest clearance considered illegal

2007-04-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News) – Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Sumatra releases its Investigative Report November 2006 today. The EoF Investigation found Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) to be involved in forest clearance operations in a concession in Kerumutan forest block. More

Riau Police Chief: Companies tend to misuse license

2007-04-19T08:58:00.000-07:00

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. More

SmartWood releases APP HCVF verification reports

2007-04-04T09:02:00.000-07:00

Pekanbaru (EoF News) – SmartWood has published recently its public verification reports of Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) HCVF occurring in four Forest Management Units in Riau Province which finalized in 2006. The reports published on Rainforest Alliance website following the termination made by the auditor since February 17, 2007. More

APP, APRIL, export illegal wood: Police

2007-03-06T22:12:00.000-08:00

APP, APRIL, export illegal wood: Police

Monday, 26 February 2007

Pekanbaru (EoF News) – The Indonesia Police Chief General Sutanto before a hearing with House’s Commission III early last week in Jakarta said PT Riau Andalan Pulp & Paper (RAPP, belongs to Asia Pacific Resources International Limited/APRIL) and PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper (IKPP, belongs to Asia Pulp & Paper/APP) allegedly involved in forest crimes such as illegally wood export and administrative document fraud.

The National Police Chief said the involvement of these two pulp and paper giant companies in such crimes is strongly alleged, Riau Tribune, a local daily, reported Tuesday. The practice of forestry document falsification by IKPP and RAPP might bring about huge State loss in revenue, General Sutanto told a hearing with the House of Representatives’ Commission III chaired by Trimedya Panjaitan.

The police suspected APP and APRIL companies commit document fraud in several administrative tasks such as in type and size of timber reporting, logging result reporting and, in paying provision fee (PSDH) and rehabilitation fee (DR).

Both companies committed illegal export to gain more profit. “Based upon our investigation on the ground, it is strongly alleged that both big companies export illegal timbers in the form of processed timber; because it will be a low profit gained if log is processed for pulp. Otherwise, if it is produced for processed timber, they will gain high profit,” General Sutanto said as quoted by Riau Tribune as saying.

“Inside PT IKPP mill [APP], we found moulding product and sawn mill that allegedly export processed wood to companies in Pekanbaru area. The mills also allegedly produced flooring and moulding products that exported to overseas through its own port. While, both mills allegedly have no license for processed timber export,” the Chief said.

The Indonesian police turn their attention now to illegal logging practices conducted by forest companies as last week its top officers in Riau disclosed a finding on such a crime allegedly perpetrated by PT RAPP.

Meanwhile, WALHI (Friends of Earth Indonesia) issued a press release friday saying the NGO supported the Indonesian Police’s action in seizing timber inside mills of PT RAPP (APRIL) and PT IKPP (APP) in Riau that allegedly illegal for having no export license.

“WALHI considers this step will amend the Indonesian Police’s reputation which have been regarded not serious in upholding law enforcement, particularly against companies allegedly committed illegal logging,” said Chalid Muhammad, WALHI’s national Executive Director.

General Sutanto said, “If in the past [we] uncover [forest crime] physically, today there is document fraud. If we let it happen, beside the forest wealth will be extinct, the ecosystem is troubled, and potential State loss is so huge in term of its revenue,”

The Chief ordered Riau Police Office to request an audit from BPKP, the Financial and Development Supervisory Board, due the estimation on State loss made by the companies’ document fraud practice “has not covered tax revenue that the companies should have paid in timber type difference.”

Both RAPP and IKPP spokespersons declined comment further on the police allegations. “We still learn the data and discuss them in details,” said Troy Pantouw, RAPP PR manager as quoted by Riau Tribune. While, IKPP PR manager Yan Partawijaya said, “We have not received the data yet. Besides, all [allegation] should be proved.”

China sraps Indonesia's Asia pulp deal

2007-02-09T07:49:00.000-08:00

China sraps Indonesia's Asia pulp deal

Social conflict and environmental disaster:

2007-02-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

A report on Asia Pulp and Paper's operations in Sumatra, Indonesia
Rivani Noor and Rully Syumanda
Report says APP incites forest destruction, social conflicts
Monday, 22 January 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News) --- Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) is "responsible for the large-scale destruction of Indonesia's forests" as well as has "generated a number of conflicts with various community groups in Indonesia which have yet to be settled." Those are quotes found on Social conflict and environmental disaster: A report on Asia Pulp and Paper's operations in Sumatra, Indonesia, compiled by Rivani Noor and Rully Syumanda.
The report is part of the World Rainforest Movement's PLANTATIONS WATCH project, with financial support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Directorate-General for International Cooperation (DGIS).
Beside highlights the social, economic and ecological damages made by APP in Riau, the study also tells of its operations inflicting losses to forest and communities in Jambi.
The report found that in a bid to meet its pulp and paper capacity production, APP sourced its main raw material from "wood from forests" since "acacia accounts for not more than 30 percent of the total supply."
Hence, illegal loggings were perpetrated by APP's partners and subsidiaries in Riau's protected areas such as in Giam Siak Kecil forest block, Pekanbaru border's protected forest, Rimbang Baling wildlife reserve, and others. "More than 82 perent of logs from the area were transported directly to Indah Kiat," the report referred to Rimbang Baling's illegal logging operations.
The two authors, Rivani Noor of CAPPA and Rulli Syumanda of WALHI, said that around 70 percent of APP's plantation concessions are located in swamps and peat forests, particularly in the regions of Mendahara, Pematang Lumut and Klagian in Jambi Province and in Siak, Bengkalis and Kampar Districts in Riau Province.
In practical, APP dredged and dried the swamps and the peat forests for canals to clear areas for planting acacia as well as for allowing timber transportation.
The study said, "APP became the target for environmental campaigners because of its deforestation record and the conflicts between the company and local communities."
Some conflicts between APP and communities in Riau and Jambi incites forest degradation, human rights abuses and socio-economic changes suffered by locals and indigenous peoples. Some APP companies annexed communities' land for pulp and paper development without paying any compensation, the study found.
In Jambi, CAPPA's investigation found that PT Wira Karya Sejati belonging to APP "manipulated the type of the species supplied to PT LPPI." The report said such a manipulation caused the State loses US$10 for any cubic meter of logs.
More
Ministry's statement on APP
Regardless to the report, Minister of Forestry MS Kaban has said on his speech that his ministry is "encouraged by the extraordinary efforts of companies such as APP, who use compliance with the regulations as a baseline for their efforts."
On the statement presented for APP Stakeholders in Tokyo, on 14 November 2006, as found on APP website, the Minister also pointed out, "The management of its [Sinarmas Forestry's] plantation forest development incorporates the economic, social and environmental aspects
in compliance with the laws and regulations of the Government of Indonesia, which are founded on sustainable forest management principles."

Rainforest Alliance terminates APP's HCVF audits

2007-01-30T14:58:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, 30 January 2007
Pekanbaru (EoF News) - Rainforest Alliance has terminated its contract with Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) in HCVF monitoring audits in Sumatra which will take into effect on February 17, 2007, due to "the company has not demonstrated a comprehensive, consistent or dedicated approach toward conservation management necessary to maintain or enhance the forest ecosystems fundamental to the survival of the HCVs present there." Read more

2006-12-19T12:19:00.000-08:00

Pulp mill sold to controversial company
James Wood, Saskatchewan News Network; CanWest News Service Published: Saturday, December 16, 2006
One of the world's largest -- and most controversial -- pulp and paper companies has bought the Meadow Lake Pulp Mill, the biggest money-losing government investment in Saskatchewan history, it was revealed Friday.Industry giant Asia Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd. (APP) will pay $38 million for the fixed assets of the mill, which is jointly owned by the provincial government's Investment Saskatchewan arm and Alberta forestry company Millar Western, said the mill's lawyer Conrad Hadubiak.The mill, which employs about 150 people, has been under bankruptcy protection since February and the deal must still be approved by the Court of Queen's Bench in a hearing slated for next week.Under the deal, expected to close in late January, APP has pledged to operate the mill for five years, with penalties if they shut it down before that time."I think this is good news for the town of Meadow Lake. We have a purchaser for the mill who is intending to continue to operate the mill and generate the economic activity and preserve the jobs that have been there over the last 12 years," Hadubiak said.The deal is being done through a Canadian numbered company that is a subsidiary of Indonesia-based Sinar Mas, which owns Asia Pulp and Paper, Hadubiak said.Singapore-based APP, which is already the biggest customer for the pulp produced in Meadow Lake, is estimated to be the sixth-largest paper and paperboard company in the world.However, it has a checkered history.The company went through major financial difficulties in 2001, including a massive default on bank loans and bonds. It has also been a focus for environmental groups, which say the company has been involved in illegal logging of natural forests in China and targeting highly ecologically sensitive forests for conversion into plantations in Sumatra."I would see it as being a bad sign that they are coming into Saskatchewan," said Richard Brooks, head of the forest campaign at Greenpeace Canada."This isn't an issue where they're just slightly bad on the environment. They're one of the worst offenders when it comes to protecting the environment, particularly protecting natural forests and forests that have very high conservation values. They rank very, very low on our list of companies operating in places like Asia."Eric Cline, the minister responsible for Investment Saskatchewan, said he couldn't comment on the company's practices elsewhere in the world."But they're not going to have a bad environmental record in Saskatchewan, I can assure you of that. They, like any mining company or forestry company or other company in Saskatchewan, are going to comply with the laws and regulations of the government of Saskatchewan and we have good environmental laws and regulations. And they know that," he said.Cline said he would have liked to have recouped the more than $900 million lost, but it wasn't possible.

WWF Press Release

2006-10-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

WWF Press Release
New Report: Asia Pulp & Paper Misleads Customers, Continues to Destroy Indonesia's Rainforests
For Release: 10/19/2006 More

EoF launches new Investigative Report

2006-10-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

Investigative Report July 2006 released
Monday, 16 October 2006
Pekanbaru (EoF News) - Coalition of three environmental NGOs in Riau, Eyes on the Forest, releases Investigative Report July 2006 today. The EoF's investigation found violation allegedly perpetrated by both Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) and Asia Pulp & Paper (APP).

EoF launches Investigative Report

2006-09-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

September 15, 2006
Pekanbaru (EoF News) - Eyes on the Forest, a coalition of three NGOs in Riau, has published EoF Investigative Report May 2006 . The investigation was conducted in Kampar and Kerumutan forest blocks involving several timber companies including APP and APRIL associated operations.
More details :
http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/eofnew/150906.php
The latest photos on EoF Gallery
Check out Eyes on the Forest interactive map

New CIFOR Research

2006-09-07T20:17:00.000-07:00

Asia Pulp & Paper Indonesia: The business rationale that led to forest degradation and financial collapse

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has expanded impressively during the 1990s to become the largest pulp and paper producer in Asia outside Japan, and one of the top ten producers in the world. In March 2001, the group suddenly announced a debt standstill on $13 billion, after many years of high profits due to very low production costs. The group is controlled by the Widjaja family members, its ultimate owners, who have been able to finance most of the expansion in Indonesia through domestic and international debts (bank loans or bonds). This family also controls Sinar Mas, which is one of the top Indonesian conglomerates. The pyramid structure of APP allows the ultimate owners to dilute their direct investment along a chain of intermediaries, while keeping control of the decisions and accounts. Research in finance has proved that this well-known strategy of reducing the ownership rights relative to the voting rights, usually causes poor corporate governance and reduced business performance. This phenomenon was particularly true in the case of the Asian type corporate model with its highly concentrated ownership in the hands of families. We found numerous transactions between APP and Sinar Mas affiliated companies, and these appear to suggest the use of transfer pricing. In particular, we are concerned by the possible instrumental use of the companies in charge of wood supply (the main operational cost for the pulp industry), and which are presumably owned by the ultimate owners without any control by minority shareholders and creditors of APP. The rents resulting from the clearing of natural forests to supply mills, which we estimate, were unusually high. The main use of debts to finance the enormous investments of APP is also remarkable for two reasons: huge profits were made in the short term owing to a low cost access to natural forests in Indonesia; and the creditors’ rights could never be satisfied due to poor law enforcement and the absence of a cross-border insolvency regime in the Asia-Pacific region. This suggests that APP is a case of debt entrenchment, the theory of which says that conglomerates use debts to prioritize the ultimate owners’ interests to the detriment of minority shareholders and external creditors. Finally, some facts suggest that politics were also important in the ability of the group to survive, as the Indonesian government held back claims on domestic debts and influenced the debt restructuring process. More

Put out fires by stopping conversion on peatlands

2006-08-08T22:25:00.000-07:00

August 7, 2006
Put out fires by stopping conversion on peatlands, An Eyes on the Forest Report on Forest Fires
July was the month worst hit by forest and land fires in Indonesia. According to MODIS Web Fire Mapper, 29.4% of the total hotspots in Indonesia in July occurred in Riau Province, with 1,419 hotspots in total. 26% of July fires was found inside APP associated concessions, 17% in APRIL associated concessions,The province was also responsible for causing 36.9% of the total hotspots in Indonesia between 1 January and 31 July 2006. 25 July alone saw the largest number of hotspots per day this year, with 445 hotspots. The haze in Riau has been forcing people to wear masks and turn on their vehicles' lights during the day due to low visibility, even to 50 meters. Several flights were delayed or cancelled. It is reported that the haze reached
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. Full report can be found at:
http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/eofnew/070806.pdf
Forest Fire Interactive Map has been uploaded. It can be found at: http://maps.eyesontheforest.or.id/Home/index.html
NGOs' joint statement on forest fires:
"Stop converting peatlands"
Jakarta, Pekanbaru, INDONESIA - Several NGOs are calling on the Government to stop granting concessions for conversion and land clearing on peatlands, citing data that shows the major factor inciting this year's forest fires is forest conversion, mainly on peat soil sites. Monitoring conducted by an NGO coalition in Riau, Eyes on the Forest, during the month of July found that 56% of hotspots detected in Riau Province were located on peatlands. In the same period, nearly 30% of hotspots detected in West Kalimantan were situated on peat soil.
Read More: http://www.eyesontheforest.or.id/eofnew/070806release.php

APP fails to protect High Conservation Value Forests

2006-07-11T14:20:00.000-07:00

APP fails to protect High Conservation Value Forests
11 Juli 2006 Jakarta, Indonesia - A new WWF monitoring report reveals that Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) continues to threaten forests in Indonesia that are important to both wildlife and people. This despite earlier commitments and pledges made by the company to its buyers.
According to the report, the company has been responsible for about 80,000 hectares of natural forest loss every year, equivalent to roughly one-half of the Indonesia province of Riau's annual forest loss since 2002. As of 2005, the company controlled nearly one-fifth, or 520,000 hectares, of the natural forests left on Riau's mainland. All these forests are under threat, as are any additional forests that APP acquires in its quest to fill its wood supply gap and expand pulp production.
"We estimate that around 450,000 hectares of natural forests have been cleared over the past five years to supply APP's pulp mill in Riau," said Nazir Foead, WWF-Indonesia's Director of Policy & Corporate Engagement. "APP's failure to commit to the protection of high conservation value forests means that many more hundreds of thousands of hectares of forests will go the same route."
High Conservation Value Forests (HCVFs) are forests of outstanding and critical importance due to their environmental, socio-economic, biodiversity or landscape values. At a meeting with WWF last month, APP refused to guarantee that such forests would be excluded from its future logging and wood sourcing operations. APP had called for the meeting in response to WWF's report. It was the first official meeting between the two since February 2004 when WWF ended its formal engagement with APP over the company's refusal to address key environmental and social concerns in its sustainability action plan.
Since 2001, WWF and some of APP's customers had been calling for the company to develop a sustainable wood supply plan that would protect HCVFs. APP had previously committed to protecting several HCVF blocks, however, recent monitoring reports show that the company failed to protect these blocks from illegal logging and fires.
"By refusing to protect HCVFs, APP is endangering the very survival of the tigers, elephants and other species that inhabit Indonesia's forests," Foead added. "It is not justifiable for one company to destroy forests which are highly valuable for the sake of corporate profits."
WWF is working with the central and local governments in Indonesia to factor the protection of conservation values into land-use planning and licensing processes. These procedures currently do not ensure protection of all HCVFs. The global conservation organization is already successfully working in partnership with palm oil producers, including APP's sister company, PT Smart, to develop practices that maintain HCVFs in and around their oil palm plantations.
WWF is also assisting global pulp and paper buyers to apply responsible purchasing policies that require avoiding products that contain fibre sourced from illegal logging operations or from unprotected HCVFs.
"There is no excuse for buyers with responsible purchasing policies to trade with a company that continues pulping high conservation value forests," said Duncan Pollard, Director of WWF's Global Forest Programme.

Sumatra´s peat swamp forest threatened with collapse, must be protected

2006-04-21T20:34:00.000-07:00

Environmental organizations Jikalahari, CAPPA, ROBIN WOOD and Friends of the Earth from Indonesia, Finland and UK warn today that one of the largest tropical peat swamp forests in the world might collapse if logging operations and conversion of peat swamp forests into plantations by the paper companies APRIL and APP continue. More

Cambodia. The Death of the Forests

2006-04-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

World Rainforest Movement - March 2006 - New publication "The Death of the Forest. A report on Wuzhishan's and Green Rich's tree plantation activities in Cambodia".
Proponents of industrial tree plantations argue that the plantations are "reforestation", increasing the area of forest, providing jobs for local people, or reducing pressure on natural forests.
The reality in Cambodia exposes these arguments for propaganda. Approximately 85 per cent of Cambodia's 13 million population lives in rural areas. A significant majority of the rural population are subsistence farmers who depend on farmland, rivers and forests for their livelihoods. During the 1990s, the government handed over approximately seven million hectares to logging companies. Although most of these concessions have now been revoked, logging continues, both legally and illegally. One of the mechanisms through which logging continues is the granting of large-scale land concessions (or "economic concessions" as they are sometimes referred to), including concessions for industrial tree plantations.
There are currently close to 1,000,000 hectares under land concessions in Cambodia, for agro-industrial crops such as cassava, sugar cane, rubber, pulpwood and oil palm. The year 2004 was marked by a boom of tree plantations for pulp and paper, with two giants breaking ground and further seeking large tracts of forest land for eucalyptus and acacia plantations: Wuzhishan LS Cambodia Group and Green Rich Co. Ltd., also known as the Green Elite Group. While these names are little known internationally or even in Cambodia, the companies behind them, Pheapimex and Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), are well-known: they are powerful, unaccountable and are known to have operated in the past in disregard of laws, welfare of local people and the environment. Pheapimex is a Cambodian company, while APP is probably the best known Asian pulp and paper company, infamous for the staggering sum of its debt, its deplorable environmental and social record and for its destructive capabilities. This report examines these companies' operations in Cambodia, the impacts observed to date on the local populations and the environment, and the associated human rights violations.
More

Logging in Giam Siak Kecil Forest Block

2006-02-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

Eyes on the Forest investigation confirmed that Asia Pulp and Paper's partners logged in Giam Siak Kecil Forest Block; Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings/ APRIL's partner logged in Kerumutan Forest Block; and PT. Sumatera Timber Utama Damai's partners logged in the buffer zone of Bukit Tigapuluh National Park, Riau Province of Sumatra, Indonesia.

The full reports can be found here

Logging in natural forest in Sontang village

2005-10-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

Eyes on the Forest's Investigative
Report, July edition is now available on the website.

In July investigation, Eyes on the Forest found that CV. Tessa Indah, a contractor of PT. Rokan Era Subur is logging in natural forest in Sontang village, District of Rokan Hulu. The timber from this logging operation is supplied to PT. Indah Kiat Pulp and Paper of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP). Eyes on the Forest also found PT. Jasa Karya a contractor of PT. Riau Andalan Pulp And Paper (PT RAPP), a pulp subsidiary of APRIL in Riau, is logging in natural forest of Pulau Padang in Kuantan Singingi District. The timber from this logging operation is supplied to APRIL.

Complete report can be downloaded here

WWF, Walhi, Jikalahari: “Logging Moratorium for Companies with Questionable Industrial Timber Plantation Licenses”

2005-08-16T01:01:00.000-07:00

27 July, 2005

JAKARTA— 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. The coalition also called on all companies sourcing timber from such activities to immediately stop all deliveries. The Ministry of Forestry (MoF) is currently reviewing the validity of these licenses. Eyes on the Forest supports the legal review as a very significant step towards the conservation of some of the country’s remaining natural forests. Locally issued licenses have been used to clear large areas of natural forests in disregard of MoF regulations that protected them. More

More than 40% of Riau's fires burn in APP and partner's concessions

2005-06-03T03:38:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, March 23, 2005
More than 40% of Riau's fires burn in APP and partner's concessions

This year, forest and land fires in Riau have started in the third week of January. The number of hot spots increased from 143 during that week to about 2800 hotspots between 14 and 21 February. Forest fires threaten human health and destroy biodiversity. According to Eyes on the Forest , more than 40% of these fires burned inside Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) and their partners' concessions. Eyes on the Forest also reports that many of the same companies were responsible for forest and land fires since 2003... Read more>>

Greenpeace China: Investigation on APP's Hainan Project

2005-06-02T01:25:00.000-07:00

APP started its investment in Hainan Province in 1995. APP now has three subsidiaries in Hainan: the Jinhai Pulp & Paper Plant, the Jinhua Foresty Company and the Fu Meilin Company. In January 1997, APP started its joint venture Jinhua Forestry Company with the Hainan General Forestry Company. This company was created to meet the raw material demand of Hainan Jinhai Pulp & Paper Plant, whose annual capacity stood at 600,000 ton of pulp. More

Victory for public environmental action as APP withdraws lawsuit

2005-02-24T03:29:00.000-08:00

Tue 22 February 2005, Hangzhou, CHINA

Giant multinational logging company, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), today withdrew its reputation infringement lawsuit against the Zhejiang Hotels Association, one day ahead of the hearing. The hotel association had been refusing to buy APP paper products after a Greenpeace investigation uncovered the company's illegal logging activities in Yunnan province. This is not only a victory for the Association, but also a landmark win for the Chinese public's involvement in environmental protection. More

Paper company destroys tropical forests in Asia

2005-01-28T01:49:00.001-08:00

Paper company destroys tropical forests in Asia

ROBIN WOOD-Protest at the trade fair PAPERWORLD in Frankfurt

APP´s Forest Asessments: Isolated approach and no substantial change

Environmental organizations warn: pulp and paper giant continues destructive operations

Greenpeace refutes APP

2005-01-18T01:35:00.000-08:00

Environmental groups echoing to protect Yunnan forest heritage

Mon 17 January 2005, Beijing, CHINA

APP hits back at Greenpeace's latest allegations of illegal logging

Preparing to Pulp the Pulp Merchants?

2005-01-06T02:45:00.000-08:00

Global Witness, Press Release, 31 December 2004, Preparing to Pulp the Pulp Merchants? Cambodian Government Announces Legal Action against Predatory Paper Giant http://www.globalwitness.org/press_releases/display2.php?id=270

A forest falls in Cambodia

2005-01-06T02:42:00.000-08:00

By Keith Andrew Bettinger

The lucrative logging industry in Southeast Asia has always blurred the lines between legal and illegal, with huge payments greasing the wheels of easily corruptible bureaucrats and politicians. As a result, entire industries have learned to accept inputs gotten by hook or crook, causing profit-hungry firms to fall over each other to meet rising demand. More

Strong Indications that PT IKPP Pulp Mill, Perawang Riau, Received Illegal Wood in July 2004

2004-12-17T03:43:00.000-08:00

Press Release: Forest Rescue Alliance, Riau,
Pekan Baru, 14 September 2004

Background A huge raw material deficit in the pulp and paper industry is triggering illegal practices in Indonesia?s ever-depleting forest stock. Forest crime involves bureaucrats, business people, law enforcement officers, politicians and even community workers, so is hard to detect, let alone curb. What?s more, it?s costing Indonesia an estimated 85 billion rupiah (around US$9.26m) a day (Inform, 2004). Two of Indonesia?s seven pulp and paper companies are located in Riau province, Sumatra. These two companies together have an annual pulp production capacity of 3.7 million air-dry tons and need about 17 million ton of raw material from natural forest each year. The two pulp and paper companies have to source about 70% of their annual pulpwood supply from the natural forest because their acacia plantations do not produce enough plantation wood to fulfill their annual raw material demands. More

Greenpeace Exposes New Evidence of APP’s Illegal Logging in Yunnan

2004-12-17T01:27:00.000-08:00

16 December 2004, Beijing - Greenpeace

China

today presented new evidence exposing Asia Pulp & Paper’s (APP) illegal logging and large-scale forest destruction in

China

’s Yunnan Province.

On 16 November, Greenpeace published the “Investigative Report on APP’s Forest Destruction in Yunnan”, which led to extensive media coverage and huge public outcry on the issue. On 24 November, APP released a response to our Investigative Report, stating that Greenpeace’s claim is “unrealistic and irresponsible”.
Mr Ke Xiang-sen, the vice-president of APP told reporters “the APP operation in China had never logged any natural forest” (1). In response to APP’s false claim, Greenpeace today exposed the new evidence on APP’s vast forest destruction and illegal logging in Yunnan Province based on 3 field investigations. This includes documentary video, in-situ logging photos and interviews with the local community.
The evidence shows that massive forestland areas had been cleared for the plantation of eucalyptus as a result of APP’s plan. Much natural forest has just been logged recently and the oldest tree found has a girth, which could be surrounded by 3 adults. In the video, local cadres and farmers from the Xiang Shui He village confirmed APP’s logging of natural forest. In a memorandum between the Yunnan Lancang county government and APP Lancang Company, it stated the coverage of 1,100,000 mu (73,333 hectares) of forestland and bush land out of the 3,000,000 mu (200,000 hectares) plantation of eucalyptus. Greenpeace also presented statistics from the local Forestry Station about APP’s eucalyptus plantation plan this year, which covers 750 mu (50 hectares) forest area, 1,848 mu (123 hectares) thin-forest land and 932 mu (62 hectares) bush land. All the above forest was replaced by eucalyptus plantation before November 2004. The local communities are outraged at APP.
Liu Bing, Forest Campaigner of Greenpeace China, said, “APP refused to admit their illegal logging activities in front of the array of evidence. Hence, we have the responsibility to further expose their criminal evidence to the public.”

Over the last month, Greenpeace raises 6 demands on APP:

Immediately stop logging natural forests and promise not to replace natural forest with plantation in Yunnan province, admit previous logging mistakes publicly, make compensations where appropriate;
Put a moratorium on the Project, conduct a truly transparent and independent assessment of the past, present and future operation of the Project involving the relevant stakeholders, revise APP’s current plan to guarantee the protection of China’s natural forests and the compliance with all the illegal procedures and authorizations as are required by the Chinese Government;
Respect the rights of local communities, ensure fair benefit-sharing with local people;
Develop a time-bound action plan to implement the commitments above as well as the wood purchase policy for the Hainan Mill;
Implement the action plan in full and have regular transparent monitoring and independent verification of the progress;
Withdraw the court case against the Zhejiang Hotel Association (ZHA) unconditionally and apologize publicly to the ZHA for filing the case in the first place.

However, APP rejects Greenpeace’s six demands and declines to make any commitments publicly.
Zhong Yu, Forest Campaigner of Greenpeace China, said “we are sorry to see that APP ignores the voice of the public and NGO. At this moment, APP is destroying China’s forest and environment, using manpower and loans from China. Greenpeace calls for consumers to stand up and say no to APP! ”
Greenpeace filed an official report with the State Administration of Forestry on the illegalities involved in this project on Nov. 16, 2004. According to the law, relevant agencies will have to reply within 60 days. We have full confidence that the Chinese government will take appropriate action in light of protecting Yunnan’s precious natural forests.

For more information:
Liu Bing, Forest Campaigner
(+86)13911291510, (86-10) 65546931-132 e-mail: liu.bing@cn.greenpeace.org
Zhong Yu, Forest Campaigner
(+86)13888060370, (86-10) 65546931-107 e-mail: zhong.yu@cn.greenpeace.org
May Zhou, Media Officer
(+86)13910036849 (86-10) 65546931-105 e-mail: zhou.meiyue@cn.greenpeace.org
Website: http://www.greenpeace.org.cn

Notes to Editors: (1) The Economic Observer, 4 October, 2004.

APP sues Chinese hotel association for defamation

2004-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

APP have swung into action against the Zhejiang Province Hotel Industry Association in China that have taken action against APP for their irresponsible and destructive practices. There is a Kyodo News International story online:

Southeast Asian logging giant sues Chinese hotel association
By Ralph Jennings, Kyodo News International, Tokyo
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Dec. 10--BEIJING -- Asia Pulp & Paper Co., a major Southeast Asian logging company, is seeking 2.2 million yuan (about $266,000) in damages from a Chinese hotel association, arguing the association defamed APP by asking its members to quit using the firm's paper products based on reports of harmful forestry practices, the hotel group's legal advisers said Friday.

APP filed the lawsuit against the Zhejiang Province Hotel Industry Association with the Hangzhou Xihu District People's Court on Nov. 30. The company has also demanded a public apology from the association.

This is a classic SLAPP suit -- a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.

A US legal website describes the suits this way:

In contrast to most litigation, the SLAPP suit is brought, not to resolve a problem, but to remove a controversy from the political arena-- where the developer may be loosing-- to the judicial arena where the "chill" and expense may enable the developer to seize victory from defeat.

WWF on APP Policy on Hainan

2004-12-13T17:58:00.000-08:00

WWF has posted some information about the Hainan mill policy.

7, Dec 2004

APP announces new purchasing policy

Jakarta, Indonesia - WWF welcomes the recent Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) announcement that its new pulp mill in Hainan will not accept wood from old-growth forests or tropical forests that have high conservation value. WWF is also pleased to learn that APP is putting this pledge into practice by canceling orders of wood chips from Tasmania and southern Australia.

More at WWF.

New APP Hainan mill old-growth and HCVF policy

2004-12-09T01:06:00.000-08:00

The APP mill on Hainan Island in China has announced a new policy for sourcing old-growth and HCVF fibre and a review of the Yunnan mill's sourcing. From Paperloop.com:

APP announces wood purchase policy for Hainan mill and independent review of Yunnan operations

BEIJING, Dec. 2, 2004 (Press Release) - APP China has announced its wood purchase policy for the newly commissioned Hainan pulp mill at Yangpu, Hainan.
The policy prohibits the mill from purchasing wood from old growth forests and requires the mill to eliminate from its supply chain any wood from tropical forests that has been identified as being High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF).

APP to Set Debt Deal For Indonesian Units

2004-12-08T02:02:00.000-08:00

The Wall Street Journal, December 6, 2004

APP to Set Debt Deal For Indonesian Units

Report on APP's Forest Destruction in Yunnan, China

2004-12-08T01:55:00.000-08:00

Links of the Investigative Report on APP's Forest Destruction in Yunnan

Chinese Version

http://www.greenpeace.org.hk/chi/document/APP_Report_CHI.pdf

English Version

http://www.greenpeace.org.hk/eng/document/APP-Report-English.pdf

APP and the End of the Rainforest in Sumatra's Riau Province

2004-10-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Indonesia: APP, APRIL and the End of the Rainforest in Sumatra's Riau Province
A new report by ROBIN WOOD sheds light on the continuing destruction of the last remaining lowland rainforest of Sumatra caused by the pulp and paper producers APP and APRIL and their baseless efforts to present themselves as nature conservationists.

The report "Clearcut Paper" is available here: www.robinwood.de/sumatrarecherche