INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 010047 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/IET, OES/IET, AND OES/ETC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO EINV ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS - JULY 2006 ¶1. Summary: On July 17, Governor of DKI Jakarta Sutiyoso warned Jakarta residents to conserve water due to a severe groundwater shortage. The Alliance for Public Care (ALIP) publicly criticized a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) plan to relocate Javan rhinos to the Halimun Mountains in West Java. The Regional Coordinator for Natural Resources Conservation (BKSDA) of Rambut, Untung Jawa, and Bokor Islands Iswandi announced on July 15 that hunting and severe sea pollution is threatening remaining shell turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) populations. On July 12, Head of Jakarta Sanitation Office Rama Boedi reported that a recent law (Number 67/2005) requiring greater coordination between the government and state-owned companies is delaying construction of three Intermediate Treatment Facilities. Continuing timber requirements for Aceh reconstruction are placing pressure on Aceh forests especially in Leuser National Park in Aceh province, Sumatra. A multinational team of experts collaborated on earthquake research while on an offshore research earthquake center vessel in Sumatra and Aceh from July 7- August 3, 2006. The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) participated in a coastal capacity management training workshop with the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs (MMAF) in July. The workshop marked the first collaboration between NOAA and MMAF since the Indonesian MMAF program was graduated from support provided by USAID to direct country- to-country collaboration. Indonesian students placed second among 86 competing countries in the 36th International Physics Olympiad hosted by Singapore on July 8-16. End Summary. Jakarta Faces Annual Water Shortage in Dry Season -------------- -------------- ¶2. On July 17, Governor of DKI Jakarta Sutiyoso warned Jakarta residents of the need to conserve water due to projections that the city will face severe groundwater shortages in the coming months. Jakarta officials expect nine areas, namely Matraman, Pulogadung, Duren Sawit, Pasar Rebo and Kampung Makasar, Kebayoran Lama, Tebet, Pasar Minggu and Jagakarsa to be particularly affected. The City Mining Office reports that 41 percent of the city's population rely on groundwater for their daily supply, with the rest of the population using the city's drinking water supply. In order to meet demand for groundwater and avoid a water crisis during the dry season, the Jakarta city administration plans to build additional catchment wells. However, the city estimates that it will need at least two million water catchment wells to meet demand, a number that far exceeds the city's current 13,579 wells. Residents Oppose Relocation Plan of Javan Rhinos -------------- --- ¶3. On July 8, the non-profit group Alliance for Public Care (ALIP) criticized the WWF plan to relocate severely endangered Javan rhinos from coastal Ujung Kulon National Park to the Halimun Mountains in West Java. ALIP's coordinator Suhada noted that the plan was, "premature and could be disastrous." Suhada questioned the suitability of the higher altitude Halimun Mountains for a rhino habitat and noted that more research by the WWF was needed. There are only 60 remaining Javan rhinos in Ujung Kulon National Park, where numerous other species compete with the rhino population for food. Environmentalists conceived the relocation plan in the 1980s in recognition of the low-lying penninsular park's scare food supply, proximity to the seismically active Sunda Strait and active Krakatoa volcano, and vulnerability to tsunamis. Any of these factors could quickly wipe out entire rhino population. After studying numerous options, the WWF continues to assert that the current relocation plan is the best strategy for safety of the rhino population and potentially increasing its numbers. The WWF has had not yet specified the date of the proposed relocation. GOI officials at the Directorate General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation of Ministry of Forestry must concur before such plan can move forward. Jakarta Environmental Degradation Threatens Turtle Life -------------- -------------- ¶4. Regional Coordinator Natural Resources Conservation (BKSDA) of Rambut, Untung Jawa, and Bokor Islands Iswandi on July 15 announced that hunting and severe sea pollution are threatening the native shell turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) JAKARTA 00010047 002 OF 003 populations. Only 2000-3000 of this protected species remain. Tourist activities in the Thousand Islands, and raw sewage and industrial waste from Jakarta are increasing pollution and threatening the island ecosystem. Iswandi admitted that the enforcement of Law No. 5 of 1990, with penalties of ten years in jail and a fine of Rp. 200 million (USD 22,000),is ineffective. BKSDA monitors illegal turtle hunting activities, promotes turtle nesting grounds, and assists in the release of young turtles to the sea. Presidential Regulation Hampers Jakarta Waste Treatment Project -------------- ¶5. On July 12, the Head of Jakarta Sanitation Office Rama Boedi reported that his office faces significant difficulties building three Intermediate Treatment Facilities, located in Pulo Gebang (East Jakarta),Duri Kosambi (West Jakarta) and Ragunan (South Jakarta). In addition to high costs, (the construction program is estimated to cost USD 300 million) the project is facing delays due to a Presidential Regulation No. 67/2005, which requires the plan go through a new tender process. City administration officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the investors before the regulation was issued and had planned to start construction in the beginning of 2006. Rama reported that city officials will seek special exemption from the National Development Planning Board Agency (BAPPENAS),Department of Public Works so that the waste treatment facilities project can be expedited. Note: Jakarta produces 6,000 tons per day but is unable to handle more than 50 percent of existing volume. The remainder flows untreated into Jakarta bay. End Note. Aceh Reconstruction Raises Concerns about Leuser Ecosystem -------------- ¶6. On March 22, the Ministry of Forestry issued forest concession permits (HPH) to five companies to fulfill timber demand for Aceh reconstruction. The concessions allow for clearing of at least 500,000 cubic meters of forest annually. Claims by the Agency for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of Aceh (BRR) and the Ministry of Forestry that timber from these concessions will fulfill the demand for reconstruction seems flawed. The cost of making these concessions operational, (establishing road networks, etc) appears to be prohibitive. Even if a concessionaire decides to invest in exploiting a HPH, by the time it becomes operational the bulk of timber needs for reconstruction will have been met through other means. This aside, the HPH areas could still be under threat from illegal loggers. Although the concession permits are not for land specifically within the Leuser ecosystem, the permitted areas border the area, putting pressure on the protected zone. The International Leuser Foundation (YLI) data showed that around 613,000 hectares or a quarter of the total of Leuser region (2.6 million hectares) has experienced severe environmental degradation since 1980. On July 17, National Coordinator of Greenomics Indonesia Vanda Mutia Dewi announced that ratification of the new Law of Aceh Government by the Indonesian Parliament (DPR) should provide protection to the Leuser Ecosystem from exploitation. The Law (Article 150, paragraph 2) bans the issuance of HPH permits in the Leuser ecosystem. Sumatra-Andaman Great Earthquake Research (SAGER) -------------- -------------- ¶7. Professor Singh, the team coordinator from the Sumatra - Andaman Great Earthquake Research (SAGER) announced on July 7 that the "Institute de Physique du Globe de Paris" (IPGP) was collaborating with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) to operate an offshore earthquake research project in Sumatra and Aceh from July 7-August 3, 2006. Twenty-six scientists from four countries (France, the United Kingdom, India and Indonesia) participated in this five-week research project using the French research vessel Marion Defresne. LIPI, Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB),Department of Energy and Mineral Resources, and Department of Marine Affairs and Fisheries sent Indonesian research representatives. U.S. and Indonesia collaborate on Coastal Capacity Initiatives JAKARTA 00010047 003 OF 003 -------------- ¶8. The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Florida Sea Grant Program participated in a coastal capacity management training workshop with the Indonesian Ministry of Marine Affairs (MMAF) in July. The workshop was developed to transfer knowledge and techniques for managing coastal capacity to local Indonesian communities. The workshop marked the first collaboration between NOAA and MMAF since the Indonesian MMAF program was graduated from support provided by USAID to direct country-to-country collaboration. Indonesia Students Shine in Physics Olympiad 2006 -------------- -------------- ¶9. Indonesian students placed second among 86 competing countries in the 36th International Physics Olympiad hosted by Singapore on July 8-16. The five participating Indonesian students won four gold and Absolute Winner medals, trailing the Chinese team which won five. The Indonesian Physics Olympiad Team (TOFI) trained the Indonesian participants to prepare for the competition. TOFI's next task is to prepare for the International Physics Olympiad in China 2007. PASCOE