INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS: OCTOBER 2008

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 JAKARTA 002182 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/MTS, OES/ETC, OES/STC, OES/SAT, OES/PCI E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY TBIO TRGY ENRG ID SUBJECT: INDONESIA ESTH HIGHLIGHTS: OCTOBER 2008 IN THIS ISSUE -------------- -- Two Biodiesel Plants Begin Production -- Jakarta Activates Flood Early Warning System -- Jakarta Needs $20 Million to Reduce Flooding -- Seaweed for Biofuel -- Provinces Target Forest Carbon Trade -- Wehea Forest Received International Award -- Development of Artificial Coral Reefs -- Jakarta Loses 20 Million M3 of Water Each Month -- KPK Investigates Members of Parliament -- South Sulawesi Hopes to Reduce Forest Destruction -- Mangrove Trees Planted on Surabaya Beach -- South Sulawesi Launches a "Go Green" Movement -- Inadequate Quality Control of Medical Equipment -- High Malnutrition Rate in Madura -- Infant Malnutrition in East Java -- Industrial Waste Contaminates Paddy Fields -- North Jakarta Vulnerable to TB ENVIRONMENT -------------- Two Biodiesel Plants Begin Production -------------- ¶1. The Deputy Minister for Research Science and Technology Development officially inaugurated two biodiesel plants in South Sumatra and South Kalimantan on October 27. The combined production capacity of the two plants is 12,000 liters per day. The State Ministry for Research and Technology has also trained 21 technical school, college and university students to operate the plants. Jakarta Activates Flood Early Warning System -------------- ¶2. Jakarta's Emergency and Alertness Office announced that it has activated a flood early warning system. The system includes five CCTVs monitored by Jakarta Crisis Center, 160 CCTVs monitored by the Traffic Management Center of the Metro Jaya Police Office, communication systems using radio and telephone lines, regular removal of waste from sewers and rivers, and a task force ready to establish emergency centers for refugees. Jakarta Needs $20 Million to Reduce Flooding -------------- ¶3. Prijanto, Vice Governor of Jakarta Province, says that in order to prevent routine flooding, Rp. 20 trillion ($20 million) of improvements to upstream-downstream environment and infrastructure is needed in the 13 rivers that travel through Jakarta and West Java Provinces. This will require cooperation with West Java Province and the Central Government. Upstream forest degradation, silt buildup in rivers and lakes, and a lack of dams and canals cause the flooding. Seaweed for Biofuel -------------- ¶4. According to the Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesian seaweed production can be a significant source of biofuel. One hectare of seaweed (microalgae) can produce 58,700 liters of biodiesel per year. The Government plans to revitalize the seaweed industry by targeting 1.9 tons of production in 2009 on 25,000 hectares. In response to the plan, the Governor of South Sulawesi stated that his province would provide the area for growing seaweed. Provinces Target Forest Carbon Trade -------------- ¶5. Governor Gamawan Fauzi of West Sumatra submitted a carbon trade plan on October 13 to the provincial House of Representatives (DPRD). In the plan, the projected income from carbon per hectare is Rp. 1,404,000 ($127.64). West Sumatra has 692,448 hectares of protected forests spread across 11 regencies/cities, potentially generating income of Rp. 972 billion ($88.36 million) per year. Lampung Province is also preparing to trade carbon credits from its protected forests (317,615 hectares spread across five regencies). Forest conservation has been difficult because of illegal logging and encroachment. Carbon Strategic Global Ltd (CSG) and IBN (International Bank of Australia) are offering to help with protection of the carbon-traded area in Lampung and West Sumatra provinces, including the administration of forest guards and surveillance, recruiting forest rangers, and training local people. JAKARTA 00002182 002 OF 003 Wehea Forest Receives International Award -------------- ¶6. Wehea Forest Management in East Kalimantan came third (and received $1,000) in the Schooner Prize Award competition in Vancouver, Canada. 760 orangutans live in Wehea forest according to a Nature Conservancy (TNC) study. Niel Makinuddin, Program Manager of The Nature Conservancy in East Kalimantan, partner of the USAID-funded Orangutan Conservation Services Program (OCSP) notes that good cooperation among indigenous people, local government and the private sector is vital for forest management. Development of Artificial Coral Reefs -------------- ¶7. The West Kalimantan Marine and Fisheries Office began planting artificial coral to rehabilitate coral reefs damaged by bombing and potassium use by. According to Sigit Sugihardi, project consultant, the project is using technology developed by BPPT (Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology). The project area covers 40 square meters with a depth of 8-10 meters. The project also includes educating fishers about alternatives to potassium use and bombing for fishing activities. Jakarta Loses 20 Million M3 of Water Each Month -------------- -- ¶8. Jaya Haryadi Priyohutomo, President Director of the regional water utility company PAM Jaya announced that the company loses 20 million cubic meters of drinking water every month. The loss is due to leakage, inadequate and old pipes, unstable land conditions, and illegal connections. According to Haryadi, 62 percent of Jakarta's 7 million are PAM Jaya customers. KPK Investigates Members of Parliament -------------- ¶9. The Commission for Combating Corruption (KPK) investigated 10 members of the House of Representatives for a corruption case involving the conversion of a mangrove forest to a small port in South Sumatra. The House members admitted receiving payments for expediting the conversion permit and several of them have returned the money to the KPK. South Sulawesi Hopes to Reduce Forest Destruction -------------- -------------- ¶10. The head of South Sulawesi's forestry office said that the provincial government plans to reduce forest destruction by 30 percent. To accomplish this, the government is allocating 500 rangers and Rp. 300 billion for rehabilitation of damaged forests. Mangrove Trees Planted on Surabaya Beach -------------- ¶11. 500 Indonesian Navy personnel and many local residents planted mangrove trees at Wonorejo beach, which is home to over 140 species of birds. Muhlas Udin, a Surabaya city official, appreciated their participation in mangrove restoration and welcomed the increased awareness of global environmental issues. South Sulawesi Launches a "Go Green" Movement -------------- ¶12. Governor Syharul Yasin Limpo of South Sulawesi launched "Go Green South Sulawesi" and declared Jompie Parepare a forest model. This 13.3-hectare forest is located in the northern part of Parepare city and has approximately 137 species of plants and dozens of traditional plantations. The Governor said preservation of the forest would help reduce global warming. He promised to provide 10,000 seedlings and urged people to plant trees. HEALTH -------------- Inadequate Quality Control of Medical Equipment -------------- -- ¶13. Indonesia Agency for Supervision of Health Facilities (BPFK) has only four offices, located in Medan (to service Sumatra), Jakarta (to service West Kalimantan and West Java),Surabaya (to service East Java and Central, South, and East Kalimantan) and Makassar (to service eastern Indonesia). BPFK conducts quality control of health equipment -- in particular, calibrating medical instruments. BPFK offices in Surabaya and Tugijono admit struggling to improve services because of limited skills, staff, equipment, and an inadequate budget. For example, the Surabaya BPFK office provides services for 7 provinces and 150 hospitals with only 27 JAKARTA 00002182 003 OF 003 officers. BPFK is trying to improve its capabilities by cooperating with the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and international standardization agencies. High Malnutrition Rate in Madura -------------- ¶14. Malnutrition rates among infants remain high, according to the East Java Health office. In 2007 the malnutrition rate was 5.1, 4.9, and 4.2 percent in the Pamekasan, Sampang and Bangkalan regencies, respectively. According to Dr. Susianto, head of the Sumenep health office, there have been around 490 cases of malnutrition there in the last three years. Infant Malnutrition in East Java -------------- ¶15. M. Moeljono, head of the East Java health office, said that 16.5 percent of the approximately 3.1 million babies in East Java (or 511,500) are malnourished due to improper care and diseases. In an effort to reduce child malnutrition, the U.N World Food Program is providing healthy food and medical assistance. Industrial Waste Contaminates Paddy Fields -------------- ¶16. The harvest has failed on at least 18 hectares of rice fields in four villages in East Java because of contaminated irrigation water. Kateman, a local farmer, said that due to the poor quality of irrigation water, his field only produced 3 tons of rice but has the potential of 7-8 tons. A representative of Posko Ijo, an environmental NGO, reported that there are 10 industries around these paddy fields without liquid waste processing infrastructure. North Jakarta Vulnerable to TB -------------- ¶17. According to the North Jakarta Community Health Office and the Infectious Diseases Unit, 3,321 citizens of North Jakarta have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB) in the first nine months of ¶2008. Though the figure is lower than in 2007 (4,079),it is still considered high. A carrier can infect 10-15 persons that live around him/her. Of the 3,321 new TB cases, 832 are BTA plus (bacterial tuberculosis active plus) triggered by bad environment, infection, and smoking. Health care officials hope that more than 85 percent of patients recover after a six-month routine treatment. HUME