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Kapuas Forests in West Borneo are Threatened!

The Bornean tribal communities in West Borneo or Kalimantan are facing a serious problems since the forests they have been living with for many years are taken over by a logging company, PT Toras Banua Sukses. This intrusion started when the company received an operation permit by the Forestry Ministry Number: 107/MENHUT-II/2006 on 17 April 2006 covering 24,920 hectares.

Ironically, some of the company’s working area at the forests belong as protected forest: Bukit Panggihan – Bukit Lambu Anak. The locations also border the Betung Kerihun National Park. The logging activities can lead to threats towards the conservation of the national park which is inhabited by many endangered species.

The permit has been rejected by four Bornean tribes: Bukat, Kayaan, Taman Semangkok, and Samus. They have contacted ProFauna help them save the forests that are important for their livelihood. The forests in Kapuas are also the habitat for orangutan, proboscis monkey, gibbon, and sun bear. If PT Toras operates in the areas, the local tribes and wildlife will be threatened.

The locals have made so many efforts to stop the forest degradation caused by the logging company, like the following:

• 19 July 2005; 19 July 2005; the locals Dayak Kayaan of Mendalam agreed to set up investigation team surveying seven villages in the area to make sure that PT. Toras had surveyed on the locations which belonged to their villages. The investigation findings showed that the company did survey the locations so the locals decided to reject its operation permit.
• 24–26 July 2006, the locals of Mendalam River Banks gathered support against the permit represented by a communication forum of Kapuas Hulu stating firmly that the locals: (1) Against the natural resources exploitation on the areas of Dayak tribes in Kapuas Hulu Regency (2) Support the locals of Mendalam River Banks who rejected the permit letter granted to the company on 3 June 2006 in the areas (3) Demand the Forestry Minister to annul the permit.
• 18 September 2006, The locals of Kayaan Mendalam who were based in Pontianak held a meeting to support the rejection by sending their letter of support to the locals of Kayaan tribe in Mendalam.
• 28 September 2006, the locals of Kayaan Mendalam met again to check the map of operational plan by PT. Toras while affirming the rejection. The meeting was attended by local leaders and youth to support the rejection.
• 5 July 2007, the locals of Dayak Kayaan held a protest to the Regent of Kapuas Hulu and succeeded to meet the Regent, who told them that the 2002 recommendation letter had been annulled because, in the same year, the Minister issued a regulation that the regional government of cities, towns and even provinces were not allowed to grant permit to logging companies covering more than 100 hectares.
• 10 July 2007, the locals met the Forestry Minister, Mr. MS. Kaban. In the meeting, Mr. Kaban did not really respond to problem. Kaban stated that he would summon the Regent of Kapuas Hulu and, representatives of PT Toras Banua Sukses and the local, scheduled the following two weeks after the meeting. Since then, the company stop the operation but they still kept the permit.
• 16 January 2010 PT. Toras started operating again by conducting socialization in the village of Urang Unsa.
• 6 April 2010 the municipalities of Kayaan Mendalam sent an ultimatum to the Director of PT. Toras Banua Sukses stating: (1) Rejection on any forestry company as according to the Regent of Kapuas Hulu statement dated 13 March 2000. (2) Until no respond of the ultimatum is made, the locals will take action in any way.
• 11 April 2010, the locals met again with the company resulting some recommendations: (I) The locals of Urang Unsa would not issue any agreement on PT Toras Banua Sukses if: (a) The agreement signed on 16 January 2010 was not revised. .(b) The permit letter was not granted by any of the government level: national, province, regency, and district which was then handed to the lowest level of the government (village). (II) There must be another following meeting.
• 20 & 23 April 2010, the locals of Urang Unsa held an open meeting resulting a statement that the villagers were firmly against the existence and operation of PT. Toras Banua Sukses in their areas.
• 4 May 2010, the locals of Kayaan Mendalam and Urang Unsa held a hearing in front of the regional house member of Kapuas Hulu. In the meeting, the locals urged the Regent to issue recommendation letter to the Minister to stop PT. Toras Banua Sukses operation.
• 18 May 2010, PT. Toras Banua Sukses stopped its operation for temporary until the regional election is done.
• 30 May 2010, the locals had a hearing with the House Member. In the meeting, the House Member would urge the Forestry Department to stop temporarily the operation of PT. Toras. Meanwhile, the locals and house member would be waiting for the decision of the Forestry Department of the national level clarifying the status of the permit to the company.
• 3 June 2010, PT. Toras facilitated the officials of the District, Forestry Department, District Police, to socialise the company in Urang Unsa Village. In the meeting, the locals remained rejecting the operation of the company in their areas.

Help Us Stop the Forest Exploitation in Kapuas, Borneo!

The local communities and ProFauna have rejected the permit for the logging company to log in the Kapuas Forests, West Kalimantan (Borneo). However, our effort are not enough. We need your support by sending a letter to the Forestry Minister of Indonesia stating your rejection to the Forest Clearance done by any logging company (Pt. Toras) in Kapuas, West Kalimantan. The address:

Zulkifli Hasan, Menteri Kehutanan Republik Indonesia

Gedung Manggala Wanabakti Blok I Lt. 3
Jalan Gatot Subroto - Senayan - Jakarta - Indonesia - 10270
Telp. +62 21 5704501-04; +62 21 5730191
Email: menhut@dephut.go.id and dirjenphka@dephut.go.id