The clear-flowing Bohorok River running through pristine rainforest in Gunung Leuser National Park on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler, 2009.
Due to continuing destruction of Indonesia’s rainforests and conflict with local communities, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has decided to suspend its certification of the nation’s second biggest paper producer, Asia Paper Resources International Limited (APRIL). Indonesia’s largest paper-producer, Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), also lost the FSC stamp in 2007.
Between 1990 and 2005 Indonesia’s deforestation rate was second in the world, falling behind only to Brazil. In the 1960s forest cover in Indonesia was 82 percent, today it is 49 percent. Tens of millions of hectares have been lost due to logging, illegal logging, paper plantations, and oil palm plantations.
To read more about the FSC’s decision to suspend paper giant, APRIL’s certification: Paper company loses green certification after rainforest destruction in Indonesia.