Stove project fails to satisfy UN requirements

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta administration's hopes of reaping revenue from carbon trading have suffered a setback as the United Nations does not recognize stove projects that use timber under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

"If the UN Executive Board has not developed a methodology that makes it possible for the stove project to get credit by reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the city administration cannot register it as a CDM activity, Prasetyadi Utomo, the secretary of the Designated National Authority (DNA), told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

The DNA, set up by the government, is tasked with approving CDM projects before they are submitted to the UN board.

The board then decides whether the projects are eligible.

Officials from the DNA and the City Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD) on Thursday met to discuss CDM issues, including the planned stove project.

The administration said it would host the country's first CDM project by distributing eco-friendly stoves to kerosene-reliant households and food vendors later this year.

The stoves would be provided by the German-based EnerXI Gmbh.

In return, stove recipients would be required to plant two trees at any location. They would cut branches and twigs from the trees, but allow them to grow back, which would provide them with a source of renewable fuel.

Prasetyadi said it was feared the recipients might not allow the branches to grow back or would cut down the trees.

"The idea of requiring them to plant trees makes sense but who will guarantee that only twigs and branches are used as raw materials. Cutting down trees means releasing greenhouse gas emissions, which is against the CDM program," he said.

The CDM is the only mechanism provided under the Kyoto Protocol that allows developing countries to take part in greenhouse gas mitigation projects.

The host of the project will receive a Certificate of Emission Reduction (CER) from the UN board based on the tons of emission reduction that can be traded to rich nations.

A ton of CO2 reduction is currently priced at between US$5-10.

Prasetyadi said the DNA had asked the administration to present an alternative project related to either the busway or compressed natural gas (CNG)-fuel bajaj, or the sanitary landfill in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi.

Jakarta dumps over 6,000 tons of garbage every day in the landfill in Bantar Gebang.

"Projects related to the busway, bajaj or landfill are more suitable for promotion as CDM activities. The UN Executive Board has issued methodologies for such projects," he said.

The fuels that are permitted under the projects are unblended gasoline, diesel, liquefied natural gas (LPG) and CNG.

Seven of the 15 planned busway corridors are now operating. Most of the buses on the routes run on CNG.

The administration has pledged to replace 14,600 diesel-powered bajaj with eco-friendly ones.

There are currently 250 units of CNG-fueled bajaj in the capital.

Ciremai's springs shrinking fast

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon

The number of natural springs at Mount Ciremai, the highest mountain in West Java, has shrunk, sparking activists to call on the government to stop deforestation in the area.

Activist Yoyon Suharyono of the Workers and Environment Foundation in Cirebon blamed the declining numbers of springs on rapid deforestation within the Mount Ciremai National Park area.

"There are only 164 springs left in the mountain, a sharp decline from 430 in 1998," he said.

The remaining 164 springs are found in 17 districts in Kuningan regency.

The head of the Mount Ciremai Conservation Working Group, Avo Juhartono, blamed the rapid deforestation on widespread forest fires during the dry season.

He also blamed the worsening situation on farmers clearing land and illegal sand mining within the national park.

He estimated more than 2,000 hectares out of a total 15,518 hectares of protected park had been damaged.

"We estimate that forest destruction will continue if the government does nothing about it. Destruction within the park has also meant a sharp decline in the number of springs," Avo said.

He said the declining number of springs could potentially cause a shortage of clean water in nearby areas.

The springs, he said, supply clean drinking water to Cirebon, Kuningan and Majalengka regencies.

The springs also supply water for rice fields in the rice-producing regencies of Majalengka, Indramayu, Kuningan and Cirebon, as well as supplying water to Darma dam.

The 3,078-meter high Mount Ciremai, which stretches across Kuningan and Majalengka regencies, was declared a national park in 2004.

Minister hopes Bulog to purchase farmers` rice soon

Serang, Banten (ANTARA News) - Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono said the government had assigned the state-owned logistics agency Bulog to purchase farmers' unhulled rice as soon as possible because the rice purchase mechanism and funds have been made available.

"The government has disbursed Rp6 trillion and has assinged Bulog to purchase farmers` unhusked rice based on the government`s purchasing price (HPP)," the minister told reporters here on Friday.

He was here to address a Muslim gathering for Islamic studies.

The minister said the government had specified certain quality conditions which Bulog should follow in buying farmers` unhusked rice.

Therefore, he said, Bulog is expected to purchase farmers` rice based on the government-set HPP. The government has set the HPP which is effective beginning this month.

As of April 1, 2007, the government`s purchasing price for dried unhusked rice (GKP) would be Rp2,000 per kg, for dried unhusked milled rice (GKG) Rp2,575 per kg and for rice Rp4,000 per kg.

Bulog said on Monday it was ready to disburse Rp4 trillion for the purchase of farmers` unhulled rice in the April-May 2007 harvest season.

Bulog President Director Mustafa Abubakar said that Bulog had disbursed Rp1.4 trillion to purchase 390 thousand tons of farmers` unhulled rice in the January-March 2007 period.

"For the April-May period, Bulog will disburse another Rp4 trillion. With the funds, we hope Bulog will be able to buy 900 thousand tons of unhusked rice in the first harvest season of the targeted 1.5 million tons this year," he said.

The government has set a target of rice production at 54.6 million tons in 2007 but it later revised and raised it to 58.1 million tons of unhusked rice, or an increase by 3.5 million tons.

Rare striped rabbit caught on camera in Indonesia

The International Herald Tribune

Thursday, April 5, 2007

BANGKOK (AP) , Thailand: One of the world's rarest rabbits was spotted in Indonesia for just the third time in the past 35 years, underscoring the importance of conserving the region's threatened rain forests, a conservation group said Thursday.

Two grainy images shot by a camera trap at night show the half-meter-long (foot-long) Sumatran striped rabbit nibbling on forest undergrowth in the Bukit Barisan National Park, said the World Conservation Union.

The rare species of rabbit was last photographed in 2000, and the last sighting by a scientist was in 1972.

"This rabbit is so poorly known that any proof of its continued existence at all is great news, and confirms the conservation importance of Sumatra's forests," Colin Poole, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Asia Program, said in a statement.

The rabbit is only known to exist in the forests of Sumatra, and thought to be the only representative of its genus.

It is listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union, meaning it faces a high risk of extinction from a range of threats, including the loss of habitat to farming.

In 1999, researchers discovered another striped rabbit in the Annamite Mountains that straddle Laos and Vietnam. Although both seem similar in appearance, genetic samples revealed the Sumatran and Annamite striped rabbits were separate — though closely related — species.

According to the findings, both species have been diverging for about 8 million years.

India to lower import duty on CPO from Indonesia

Medan, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - India has decided to lower its 60 percent import duty on crude palm oil (CPO) from Indonesia as that country has become increasingly dependent on the Indonesian commodity, an official said.

Last year Indonesia met nearly 80 percent of India`s CPO imports which totaled 3.5 million tons, executive director of the Solvent Extractors Association of India B.V Mehta said here on Tuesday.

"The Indian government is still discussing a possibility of lowering its import duty on CPO from Indonesia. The reduction is important to ensure the smooth supply of CPO amidst India`s growing demand for the commodity. This year India is expected to import at least 4 million tons of CPO," he said at a meeting with members of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association (GAPKI).

He said the Indian government would make every effort to facilitate the import of CPO while at the same time continuing its protection to its farmers` vegetable oil production.

The higher import duty on CPO from Indonesia was one of the ways to protect the vegetable oil production, he said.

"India has become quite dependent on Indonesia for CPO supplies, because Malaysia which is the world`s biggest CPO producer cannot meet India`s needs as much of its CPO is used to produce certain goods," he said.

Two-thirds of world's largest cities in endangered coastal low-elevation zones, study says

The Jakarta Post

LONDON (AP): For the first time, a scientific study has identified the world's low-lying coastal areas that are vulnerable to global warming and sea-level rise, and urged major cities from New York to Tokyo to wake up to the risk of being swamped by flooding and intense storms if nothing is done.

In all, 634 million people live within such areas - defined as less than 10 meters (33 feet) above sea level - and that number is growing, said the study released Wednesday.

Of the more than 180 countries with populations in the low-elevation coastal zone, about 70 percent have urban areas of more than 5 million people that extend into it, including Tokyo; New York; Mumbai, India; Shanghai, China; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Asia is particularly vulnerable and in general poorer nations are most at risk, the peer-reviewed scientific study said.

The study in the journal Environment and Urbanization doesn't say exactly what should be done, but it warns that it won't be cheap and it may involve moving lots of people and building protective engineering structures. And, it adds, countries should consider halting or reducing population growth there.

"Migration away from the zone at risk will be necessary but costly and hard to implement, so coastal settlements will also need to be modified to protect residents," said study co-author Gordon McGranahan of the International Institute for Environment and Development in London.

In a separate matter, the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change next week is expected to alert the world that coastlines already are showing the impact of sea-level rise and global warming and that it's expected to worsen. The IPCC - which will issue a report on how climate change will effect human health, cities, agriculture, industry and different species - is expected to say that about 100 million people each year could be flooded by rising seas by 2080.

"As the effects of climate change become increasingly clear, the location of the coastal settlements most at risk should also become evident," said the article by McGranahan, Deborah Balk of the City University of New York and Bridget Anderson of Columbia University.

Justices Rule Against Bush Administration on Emissions

By LINDA GREENHOUSE,

Published: April 2, 2007, The New York Times

WASHINGTON, April 2 — In one of its most important environmental decisions in years, the Supreme Court ruled today that the Environmental Protection Agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobile emissions.

The court further ruled that the agency cannot sidestep its authority to regulate the greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change unless it can provide a scientific basis for its refusal.

The 5-to-4 decision was a strong rebuke to the Bush administration, which has maintained that it does not have the right to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act, and even if it did, it would not use the authority. The ruling does not force the Environmental Protection Agency to regulate auto emissions, but it would almost certainly face further legal action if it fails to do so.

Read More ....

Strong earthquake in Indonesia

Radio Australia

A strong earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale has struck off Indonesia's northern Sulawesi province.

Geologists say the quake struck overnight around 90 kilometres north-east of the port of Bitung.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

The quake was felt in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, 40 kilometers west of Bitung.

The Indonesian archipelago sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

Flashflood hits 22 villages in Belu

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

Flashfloods hit 22 villages in Belu regency on West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara, on Monday, following three days of rain.

The floods were caused by the overflow of the Benenain River. No casualties have been reported, but at least 10,000 people have been evacuated.

Head of Belu regency social service office Arnold Bria said in Atambua that at least 1,000 houses were flooded, with many people's belongings being swept away entirely.

He said that 13 of the 22 affected villages were located in Malaka Barat district, five at Weliman district and four at Malaka Tengah district.

"The flooding was caused by heavy downfalls on hilly areas in the Timor Tengah Utara and Timor Tengah Selatan regencies," he said.

He said the three affected districts were low-lying and regularly flooded.

"The water is 1.52 meters deep at present. If the rain continues falling we fear it will get higher," he said.

The worst hit areas were Kakeu Laran and Bicolo hamlets at Lasaen village in Malaka Barat district, where most of the houses were flooded. Thousands of hectares of agricultural land was also inundated.

Businesses and schools were also shut Monday as many buildings in the area were damaged.

The Belu regency administration has said it plans to relocate residents of a river embankment that is prone to flooding.

"The administration is in the process of persuading local noted figures to release parts of their land for the purpose," Belu deputy regent Gregorius Mau Bili said.

Other efforts to help protect local people from the threat of floods include the construction of flood prevention walls along the Benenain River.

Malaka Barat district chief Remigius Asa said his office was badly in need of rubber boats to help distribute supplies to the affected villages, which were unreachable by land.

"Accesses to the affected regions has been blocked by thick mud so that rubber boats are the only solution to supplying assistance," he said.

Mt. Slamet`s activity increasing

Pemalang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - The activity of Mt. Slamet located between the districts of Tegal and Pemalang in Central Java has been increasing since the past two weeks following the high rainfalls in the districts.

An attendant at the volcano control post in Gambuhan village, Pulosari subdistrict in Pemalang, Sukedi, said here Sunday that signs of the increasing volcanic activity like billows of smokes from the crater have been seen since the past two weeks.

He pointed out that the 3,428-meter high volcano has spewed smokes up to a hundred meters in diameter from its peak, however, the volcanic activity was still considered normal and did not jeopardize people living on the slope of the mountain.

He said the volcanic smokes were clearly seen from Central Java provincial capital of Semarang or from the eastern part of the highest mountain in the province.

"The signs of the increasing volcanic activity are also felt with the increasing temperature on the mountainous areas and the billows of smokes with sharp sulfuric smell," he said.

The increasing volcanic activity would bring about climate change in the surrounding areas like Pemalang, Tegal and Purwokerto, he said, adding, "the temperature will increase and it will be cloudy".

Quake jolts Bengkulu

Bengkulu (ANTARA News) - A tectonic earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale rattled the Indonesian province of Bengkulu on Wednesday night but there was no report of casualties.

The quake`s epicenter was 87 km southwest of Bintuhan, Kaur district, at a depth of 48 km, spokesman of the Bengkulu meteorology and geophysics Adjat Sudrajat said on Thursday.

An earthquake with a magnitude of less than 3 is common in Bengkulu following a magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck the province in June 2000 when 92 people were killed.

Australia pledges A$200 million to reforestation program

The Jakarta Post

CANBERRA, Australia (AP): Australia on Thursday pledged 200 million Australian dollars (US$161 million) to protect and replenish Asian forests - a move Prime Minister John Howard said would do more to combat climate change than the Kyoto Protocol on global warming.

The fund, which will be spent over the next five years, will aim to halve the rate of deforestation in southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, by planting new trees, fighting illegal logging, delivering education about forest management and supporting industries that provide an alternative to timber production.

Britain, Germany and the United States will also join the fund, which will be managed by the World Bank.

Howard said 20 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to the destruction of forests, which absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Deforestation ranks second behind electricity production as a key cause of the world'scarbon dioxide levels, he said.

"What this initiative will do, in a shorter period of time, is make a greater contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions than, in fact the Kyoto Protocol," Howard told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

One of the world's largest per capita producers of greenhouse gas, Australia has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which calls for steep cuts in carbon dioxide emissions among industrialized nations.

Howard, siding with U.S. President George W. Bush, who has also refused to join the treaty, says the treaty would disadvantage Australia's coal-driven economy by placing caps on its emissions while allowing energy hungry developing countries like China and India to pollute freely.

But opinion polls show Australian voters are increasingly worried about global warming in the lead up to federal elections later this year.

A longtime skeptic on climate change, Howard has been softening his stance on the issue.

Last month, the prime minister said Australia should put a price on carbon emissions, saying market mechanisms would be integral to any long-term response to climate change. The announcement was a reversal of Howard's previous stance that any moves to cap or price carbon dioxide emissions would effectively be a "carbon tax" that would cripple Australia's coal industry and slow the economy.

Report advises on best forestry policy

The Jakarta Post

Kenneth M. Chomitz, senior advisor to the World Bank's Independent Evaluation Group, on Wednesday launched a report on farm expansion, poverty eradication and forestry titled In Dispute.

After the launch, Chomitz addressed 70 researchers who were taking part in a seminar on forestry management and carbon trading investment held by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) at its office in Situ Gede, Bogor.

The report, he said, would help decision makers in identifying types of forest and the most effective policies to ensure their conservation and sustainability while eradicating poverty.

According to him, for the first type of forest -- one that borders on agricultural land in dispute -- decision makers should be able to guarantee people access to the forest in order to avoid illegal logging and conflict.

For the second type, which is situated outside agricultural land such as in the basin of the Amazon, the Congo, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Sulawesi, the government should take firm action to halt farm expansion that may damage the forest.

In the mosaic type of forest -- where people farm and live in the forest -- the report suggests the provision of incentives for people to protect the forest, a practice that has been implemented in Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

"It is wrong to generalize that the motive of deforestation is poverty and that deforestation leads to poverty ... We found that deforestation is caused by both the rich and the poor, and that it could destroy or establish assets for the poor," Chomitz said. -- JP

Kalla defends the purchase of 12 choppers

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (Antara): Vice President Jusuf Kalla Tuesday defended the government's purchase of 12 helicopters, which will be used to carry out immediate helps for victims of natural disasters.

He also denied that the procurement of the choppers did not pass through right procedures.

"There is nothing wrong with the procedure. All those stories are nonsense," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying before leaving for his Middle East trip.

Many criticized the procurement of the choppers, which were being held by Custom Office because supplier has not paid entry taxes. There was also a report that the procurement involved Kalla's relative.

According to Kalla, the chopper purchase is for the pride of the nation and for the sake of people's interests because so far, Indonesia always borrowed choppers from neighboring countries to give immediate help to victims of natural disasters.

He also denied that the choppers will be used for commercial transports.

Earthquake hits Timor Island

JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post) : An earthquake measuring 4.8 in Richter Scale Tuesday hit Timor Island felt in several areas of Timor Tengah Utara regency, East Nusa Tenggara province.

Meteorology and Geophysics, or BMG, said that the epicenter of the tremor, occurring at 5.37 p.m. local time, was located some 145 kilometers northeast of provincial capital of Kupang.

There is no immediate report of property damage or casualty.

Indonesia sits on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, and experiences frequent earthquakes - as well as tsunamis triggered by underwater earthquakes.

Last month, strong earthquake hit West Sumatra killing at least 70 people. Last year, more than 500 people died when a tsunami hit an area of the Java coast after an undersea earthquake. And in the Asian tsunami of December 2004, more than 130,000 people died on Sumatra.

Cold lava, floods hit East Java

Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Lumajang

Heavy rains over the past week have resulted in cold lava flows on Mount Semeru, worrying Lumajang regency administration in East Java, which is now preparing for heavy floods.

Local disaster mitigation agency head Zainul Aini said the administration had set up a number of command posts in disaster-prone areas and mobilized 50 members from the disaster mitigation coordination unit.

"The officers will be assisted by 10 members from the rapid disaster anticipation unit, in addition to 15 men from each district. They are tasked with directly monitoring risky areas," said Zainal on Monday.

The administration is focusing on seven districts regarded as being at the greatest risk, encompassing the Besuk Sat, Besuk Kabokan, Besuk Kembar and Besuk Bang river delta areas, which are located in Pasrujambe, Kedungjajang, Pronojiwo, Ngadipuro, Tempeh, Pasirian and Yosowilangun districts.

Zainul said the riverflow areas were the main paths of cold lava from Mount Semeru and that volcanic material such as sand and rocks had been pouring down the mountain since March 23.

His office has advised residents living along rivers to be alert to the risk of floods and cold lava flow.

The office has also urged hundreds of traditional sand miners in those areas to be wary.

"The Lumajang administration cannot prohibit them (from working), but only urge them to be careful in carrying out their activities," said Zainul.

Earlier reports said that a cold lava flow had destroyed a 20-meter stretch of river dikes in Pasru Jambe district and a bridge in Pandansari village.

Mount Semeru's status is classified as "alert". Images in February showed thin white sulfurous gas from medium to high pressure at a height of 25 to 75 meters above its crater, while 107 eruptions have occurred, spewing gray smoke at medium to high pressure at 300 to 600 meters above the crater. Crater growth and molten lava has not been observed since February.

In Malang, Vice Regent Rendra Kresna said flash floods on March 23 stemming from the Lesti River, a tributary of the Barantas River, engulfed the Wajak, Turen, Poncokromo and Dampit districts. A resident of Sananrejo village, Sumai, 48, was killed when he was swept away by currents after being hit by a falling tree.

The floods also damaged seven bridges, three irrigation dams, hundreds of hectares of crops and water pipes.

In Yogyakarta, the Volcanology Research and Development Agency has reinstalled reflectors at Mount Merapi -- the most active volcano in the world -- that were destroyed and buried by lava during the eruption in 2006, which killed two volunteers.

"We have reinstalled 10 reflectors at the observation posts on the southern and western slopes of the mountain," said agency head Ratdomopurbo on Monday, adding their presence had accelerated observation activities accurately and rapidly, such as monitoring magma movement and crater deformation.

He said that despite a drop in volcanic activity, the volcano could still pose a risk in the form of cold lava flows. "It still contains a million cubic meters of material at its peak that could fall down," said Ratdomopurbo.

-- Slamet Susanto contributed to the story from Yogyakarta.

Cocoa Exports to Exceed US$1 Billion

Monday, 26 March, 2007 | 16:51 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Cocoa producers have stated that the value of exports this year is estimated to reach US$950 million.

Head of the Indonesian Cocoa Association Halim Abdul Razak said that the growth of export this year will be between 20 percent and 30 percent.

“The increase is a result of the 30 percent rise in world cocoa price last month,” said Halim last week.

He said that the price of cocoa seeds, which were previously US$1,415 per ton, has increased by between US$500 and US$1,920 per ton since early March this year.

“Seen from the overall value, the increase can be more than between 20 percent and 30 percent. However, bearing in mind the volume, the increase will be between 5 percent and 10 percent compared to 2006,” said Halim.

Previously, the government stated that the value of cocoa exports this year would reach US$1 billion, an increase compared to last year's US$800 million.

Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said that the increase in exports was caused by improvements in the sector.

“In addition to cocoa, crude palm oil and footwear have also increased,” Mari said last week.

According to Halim, the increase in exports was triggered by the exemption of value added tax on primary products.

“In addition, there were improvements in the on-farm sector,” he said.

Halim went onto to say that Indonesian cocoa seeds exported in 2006 totaled 450,000 tons, while production reached 590,000 tons.

“The remainder was absorbed by domestic industry.”

Secretary General of the Association of Cocoa Industry Sasongko stated that the exempted value added tax on the primary value of cocoa seeds has automatically boosted exports.

“The removal of cocoa import duty to China, which is the new industrial market, has helped in boosting the increase of exports,” he told Tempo.

RR ARIYANI

Police, forestry ministry pursuing 40 illegal logging financiers

Kudus, Central Java (ANTARA News) - As many as 40 illegal logging financiers are now on the wanted lists of the National Police Headquarters and the Forestry Ministry, Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban said here Friday.

"We are now not only pursuing illegal loggers in the field but also those higher up, especially the people who finance the criminal activity," Kaban said during a working visit in Rahtawu village, Gebog, Kudus district, to observe the implementation of a forest and land rehabilitation program.

Asked about the involvement of government officials in the illegal activity, the minister admitted there were cases implicating people officially working for the government, including a major general, a government service head and clerks. Their cases were now being handled by law enforcers.

He said catching the financiers was more difficult than arresting operators in the field because the former often operated through an untraceable system or behind the scenes. "Some of them have so far not been caught because they are very cunning," he said.

However, illegal logging activity in the country as a whole had dropped sharply while in a number of regions where it used to be rife such as Jambi, Riau, East Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan and West Kalimantan, it appeared to have ceased entirely, he noted.

"But the national illegal logging eradication campaign will be continued," Kaban said, adding that the government was now protecting about 30 million hectares of virgin forests or more forests than were to be found in the Amazon region.

SBY warns of climate change fallout

M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday warned Indonesians to brace for the adverse impacts of global climate change.

Addressing the commemoration of World Meteorology Day here, Yudhoyono said signs of climate change were already upon the world, as indicated by the high incidence of major natural disasters -- 70 incidents between November 2004 and March 2007.

"I warn everyone to be on alert for the impacts of global climate change on life, security and welfare," the President said in his speech, adding that weather conditions and crop cycles would likely be effected.

Yudhoyono said Indonesians had the ability to live with recurrent disasters, given the country's geographical position.

"I am not trying to scare (Indonesians). But what we have to do is physically and mentally prepare for the threats," he said.

The President ordered the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) to study changes in environmental conditions and deliver accurate information to the public on possible disasters.

Indonesia has been the victim of a string of natural disasters, some of which have been said to be the result of climate change.

In January, Jakarta suffered from severe downpours and floods after a lengthy dry period in what should have been the rainy season.

Earlier this month, a landslide killed 43 people in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, traditionally known as a dry province.

Most scientists now agree average global temperatures will rise by between two and six degrees Celsius by the end of the century. It is believed this process is being driven by an atmospheric build up of greenhouse gases, which are commonly released in the burning of fossil fuels for power and transportation purposes.

With a mere rise of two degrees, scientists predict a massive upsurge in species extinction and extreme weather events such as storms, droughts and floods. This could potentially threaten hundreds of millions of lives around the world. Under forecasts, polar icecaps will melt, raising sea levels by several meters.

Chairwoman of BMG, Sri Woro Harijono, said Indonesians must understand that they live in a disaster zone.

"The people here should always be prepared to face all types of disasters, be they earthquakes, floods, volcanic activities or tsunamis," Sri Woro said.

During the ceremony, the President presented awards to local administrations and the media for their contribution to informing the public on the risks posed by climate change.

The provincial governments of Central Java, Gorontalo and West Sumatra, as well as Nabire regency, all received awards.

Award recipients from the media were private TV station Metro TV, state-run TV station TVRI, Kompas, Media Indonesia and private radio stations Elshinta and Trijaya FM.

Technology brings the sea closer to home

Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post

The bright side of the city's water shortages is that people are now exploring alternative sources to groundwater.

One alternative is to build water desalination plants to turn seawater into potable water.

"It is possible because the technology is available in Indonesia. For desalination plants, the technologies applied include reverse osmosis technology as well as distillation," Sakt A. Siregar, Siemens Water technologies business development manager, said Friday.

Germany-based Siemens provided the technology for Singapore's water desalination plant.

Sakti said a water desalination plant could supply a large amount of water, depending on its size. "An average sized one can supply around 100 liters of water per second."

Desalination is a process that removes dissolved minerals -- including but not limited to salt -- from seawater, brackish water or treated wastewater. A number of technologies have been developed for desalination, including reverse osmosis (RO), distillation, electrodialysis and vacuum freezing.

Currently, Jakarta's main water supply comes from raw water sources located in Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and Tangerang, as well as Jatiluhur Dam in West Java.

Haryadi Priyohutama, the director of city water company PAM Jaya, has said there is no guarantee the dam will have the capacity to supply Jakarta in the long term.

Jakarta uses 16 cubic meters of water per second, while Jatiluhur Dam, in Purwakarta, West Java, has the capacity to supply 14 cubic meters per second.

It is estimated that by 2009 the city will be using 21.6 cubic meters of water per second. By 2015, demand will have reached 42 cubic meters of water per second.

The Jakarta administration has said the city suffers a water deficit of 36 million cubic meters per year from the total demand of 400 million cubic meters a year.

Sakti said many of the country's industries, such as petrochemical industries and power plants, had already built desalination plants to meet their water needs.

He said that building municipal desalination plants might be a good alternative for the city to consider. However, he doubted that would happen in the near future considering the plan required a capital investment of millions of dollars.

"For Jakarta I think the trend will be clustered desalination plants. The plants won't be constructed by municipalities, but by industries for their own source of water."

He said the management of Ancol amusement park, which is situated on the northern coast of Jakarta, was planning to build a desalination plant for its own use.

"That's what the trend will likely be."

Mobile units capable of treating even the most turbid water

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post

The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) has been working on a mobile water treatment system, which can be started up and applied on the spot, in response to the unequal access to potable water in the city.

A single mobile unit has the capacity to treat 400 cubic meters of polluted water a day.

"One unit can serve more than 4,000 people with a production cost of Rp 1,100 per cubic meter," Indratmo Soekarno, the head of the ITB's department of civil engineering, said recently.

He said the treatment units were able to purify dirty water taken from rivers, wells or lakes.

"The quality of the water is of little consequence. One of our mobile units can purify water with a turbidity of 10,000 ppm (parts per million), which cannot be treated by the state-owned water operators," he said.

The dirty water is first oscillated, spiraling heavier particles like sand and sediment away, before being filtered.

Chlorine is then used to destroy disease-causing contaminants.

Indratmo said the technology could also be applied to make seawater potable, with a production cost of Rp 9,000 per cubic meter.

"We are also developing the technology to reduce the production cost still further," he said.

The treatment units were first used in the city during the floods last month, which left millions of people without access to clean water.

The ITB, in cooperation with the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI), deployed two treatment units to Jakarta.

"We set up one unit on Jl. Sultan Agung, East Jakarta, and another in Bekasi, giving free potable water to the flood victims," Hasnah Siregar, the IDI's chief public relations officer, said.

Many of the city's poor have limited or no access to clean water.

A report issued by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) last year said Jakarta's slum dwellers paid five to 10 times more for water than people living in upscale areas.

The report said almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than US$2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day.

Half of the some 10 million inhabitants of the city are believed to rely on groundwater.

The administration says groundwater supplies are steadily depleting due to overexploitation coupled with the poor rainwater catchment facilities in the city.

In low-lying North Jakarta, for example, groundwater depletion has caused serious land subsidence, making the area more vulnerable to flooding and allowing water from the Java Sea to seep into the coastal aquifers.

The administration says 80 percent of the groundwater in wells with depths of 10-20 meters is polluted.

Perhutani prepares 400 million young plants for reforestation

Magelang, Central Java (ANTARA News) - Perum Perhutani has prepared around 400 million young plants for reforestation of at least 200,000 hectares of forested land in the country this year, the state forestry company`s president director, Trastoto Handadari, said here on Monday.

The company is currently seeking cooperation with a third party to support the funding of the project, he said when launching a reforestation drive here on Monday.

He said he would also seek funds from the State Budget especially those allocated for reforestation of protected forests.

He said reforestation of protected forests was also part of public service obligation, so that it could not always be done by Perhutani. "So we are also seeking a source of funds for the program from the national budget," he said.

He said the reforestation of 200,000 hectares of forest land would absorb around one million workers.

He said the implementation of the reforestation program covering 36 hectares of protected forests would cost Rp150 billion.

He said that meanwhile he managed to establish cooperation with a third party in providing the necessary funding of the reforestation of 30,000 hectares of other forests in the country.

He said Perhutani had also developed other programs like forest education and tourism programs in the framework of the reforestation drive until 2010.

"It is hoped that under the reforestation program, Indonesia will again become green and able to improve the people`s welfare," he said.

Walhi calls for investigation of Kampar river pollution

Pekanbaru, Riau (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) in Riau Province, has asked the provincial police to investigate pollution in Kampar River in Pelalawan District.

The Riau Police must investigate the pollution case, Director of Walhi`s Riau chapter Jhonny S. Mundung said here Tuesday.

The Indonesian environmental NGO has suspected that PT RAPP (Riau Pulp and Paper) company has polluted the river.

Some 18 residents of Sering village, Pelelawan District, were rushed to a police hospital in Pekanbaru on Monday (March 19) for being poisoned due to the river pollution.

The poisoned villagers included children between 21 months and 13 years old and some adults, he said. The villagers suffered from skin and eye irritations, respiratory problems, coughing and stomachache, he added.

Based on Walhi`s finding, Kampar River was polluted by chlorine disposed by the pulp and paper company located in Riau Province, Sumatra Island, according to Mandung.

"If the pollution continues to be ignored, it might claim lives. Therefore, the provincial police must investigate the case," Mundung said.

Walhi was preparing a report to the local police for further investigation on the alleged pollution case, he added.

Monitoring water the best way to avert crisis: Experts

Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Once an ubiquitous natural resource, water has now become an overpriced commodity.

Periods of insufficient raw water supply in the city -- blamed on inappropriate development, which has reduced the number of catchment areas and polluted rivers and groundwater -- have brought the capital to the brink of a water crisis.

Some scientists say severe water shortages could occur in a decade, others project three years.

But many experts refuse to see a water crisis as inevitable, insisting precautions can be taken to ensure the city has a sustainable water system.

Alizar Anwar, a consultant to the Jakarta Water Regulatory Body, said the city administration had recently proposed a number of methods for industries and residents to save water, but had missed out the one he considered most effective.

"It is good to have percolation pits to save groundwater, but first things first ... the city administration has to establish a system to monitor both the quantity and quality of water," he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

In monitoring water quantity, he said, the administration should first address the problem of leaking pipes. .

He said the piped water production capacity in Jakarta should be 16 cubic meters per second. However, due to leakages -- caused by the poor condition of Dutch-era pipes and a general lack of maintenance -- the capacity had been reduced by half.

"If the leaked water was collected, Jakarta might have another Kalimalang River on its hands," Alizar said, explaining that the mean flow of water in the river, which runs across the eastern part of Greater Jakarta, was only five cubic meters per second.

He said the administration should cooperate with its business partners in piped water distribution and neighboring regions in upstream areas to ensure the good quality of raw water.

"Investment in water treatment has resulted in a higher water tariff ... consumers have been led to use more groundwater, which could cause seawater intrusion, sedimentation and land subsidence. And we don't want that to happen," Alizar argued.

Meanwhile, Sutjipto from the Jakarta-based Water and Sanitation Network (JAS) said it was important to monitor the quantity and quality of water in Jakarta to cut down on guesswork.

"Currently most of us have based our arguments on assumptions about the condition of the water in Jakarta. We could say the condition of the water in the Ciliwung River is poor because we observe riverbank dwellers and industries disposing of wastewater and garbage in the river and using it again for daily activities, even to drink."

This theme of this year's World Water Day, which falls on Thursday, is raw water scarcity in many parts of the world.

Sutjipto said that instead of worrying about the possibility of a water crisis in the near future, people should concern themselves with the quality of the city's water now.

"The water -- both inland and groundwater -- is heavily polluted. The high incidence of waterborne diseases, which kill babies and toddlers, and the fact that almost half of the Indonesian people have had diarrheal diseases should have forced regional administrations, industries and residents to be more concerned about the environment."

Mt. Batutara erupts

JAKARTA (Antara): Mount Batutara located on Lembata Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), erupted as of March 17, 2007, and is declared off-limit to local fishermen used to transit on the island, a local official said.

The eruption of Mt Batutara was still going on and it would be dangerous for fishermen trying to approach the island for a transit, Head of the National Geology Agency's Volcanic and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG) Dr Surono saidThursday.

Mt. Batutara, which is 750 meters above the sea level, is currently on the alert status or the second level, he said.

"Lembata Island has no inhabitants, but it is often used as a transit area by local fishermen," he said.

After receiving information from local fishermen about the eruption of the volcano on March 17, 2007, volcano observation officers tried to approach the island to check the condition of the mountain, which spewed volcanic materials up to 1,500 meters high.

"However, up to now, our staffs could not approach the island at a close distance because of huge waves," he said.

Pilot and Demonstration Activities (ADB)

Appropriate Information System for Integrated Water Resources Management: An Exploratory Trial in the Cimanuk River Basin

Asian Development Bank

Any reliable information system provides a clear, concise, and up-to-date data to aid important management decision making tasks. Such a database is lacking in West Java's Cimanuk River Basin. This PDA will establish a Geographic Information System in Cimanuk as an initial step towards integrated water resources management.

Read More ....

Jakarta Water Sources Polluted by E. Coli Bacterium

Wednesday, 21 March, 2007 | 16:07 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Almost all water sources in Jakarta are already polluted by Escherchia Coli bacterium, originating from organic garbage and human feces.

This has already polluted 13 rivers and 68 percent of ground water in Jakarta.

Research by the Jakarta Provincial Environment Management Agency (BPLHD) in 2006 showed that the pollution the bacterium causes in the rivers has far exceeded the limit.

The samples for the research were taken from 66 locations in the rivers.

The fact is that, “None of the rivers is appropriate to be the source of drinking water,” said Head of BPLHD Budirama Natakusumah in a discussion yesterday (03/20).

Budirama said that one of the rivers having the worst rate of pollution was the Ciliwung river.

The E. coli bacterium rate in the river reaches 1.6-3 million individuals per 100 cc, far above the standard of quality of 2,000 individuals per 100 cc.

In spite of this, the river is the source of drinking water in Jakarta.

The pollution, said Budirama, is caused by liquid waste from households.

Of the total 1,316,113 cubic meters of water waste in Jakarta, 75 percent of it is household waste.

DWI RIYANTO AGUSTIAR | REH ATEMALEM | YUDHA SETIAWAN | AGUSLIA HIDAYAH

TESTING THE WATERS:

The Jakarta Post

A student at the privately run YPI Bekasi High School on Sunday measures the oxygen level of water plant Hydrilla during a water conservation campaign at Lake Cibubur in South Jakarta.

The program, which is jointly run by the Coca-Cola Foundation and the United States Agency for International Development, aims to educate teenagers about water issues. (JP/J. Adiguna)

Mt. Talang alert level raised

The Jakarta Post

PADANG, West Sumatra: The status of Mount Talang in Solok regency, West Sumatra, was raised one level following increased smoke and tremors, a volcanologist said Monday.

"We were forced to raise the status by one level Saturday due to increased activity at the mountain," said Dalipa Marjsi of the Mt. Talang Volcanology Monitoring Office.

On Saturday the mountain spewed thick smoke 800 meters above its crater, he said, adding that the activity was followed by two small-scale earthquakes.

On Sunday the volcano spewed smoke 400 meters above the crater accompanied by small explosions.

He said local Solok district authorities were immediately notified of the increased activity. A coordination meeting was held Sunday night with district authorities to prepare for a possible eruption if the alert level reaches four.

Solok district chief Gusmal told AFP that some 41,000 people may need to be evacuated from the slope of the mountain should an eruption prove imminent.

"There is no plan to evacuate them yet, but we are preparing now in case the alert status is raised," Gusmal said.

More than 25,000 residents were evacuated in April 2005 from the slopes of Mount Talang when the volcano spewed an increasing amount of volcanic ash.

Indonesia sits on the so-called "Pacific Ring of Fire", where continental plates meet and cause frequent volcanic and seismic activity.

Two earthquakes hit eastern Indonesia

ABC Radio Australia

Two earthquakes have hit eastern Indonesian regions, but there are no reports of casualties or damage.

A meteorological official says a moderate earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale struck Papua province at 11.30 local time, and a a 5.9 magnitude quake jolted Ternate on the Moluccas islands, nine hours earlier.

Earthquakes are frequent in Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country.

Government, House discuss bill on transboundary haze

Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government and the House of Representatives began discussions Monday evening on whether to ratify the ASEAN agreement on trans boundary haze pollution.

A working committee consisting of 40 legislators from three commissions overseeing defense and foreign affairs, agriculture and forestry affairs and environment affairs presented their views on the agreement.

The government was represented by State Minister for the Environment Rachmat Witoelar, State Minister for Research and Technology Kusmayanto Kadiman, Forestry Minister M.S. Kaban, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono and Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda.

Witoelar called on the House to ratify the agreement, saying it would have more positive than negative affects on the country.

"Ratifying the agreement will have a more positive impact on Indonesia because trans boundary haze pollution has affected not only locals and the domestic economy but also foreign countries. It will also help preserve the environment," he told the meeting.

"Otherwise, the government will remain the subject of blame, not only by foreign countries but also by locals affected by the annual haze pollution."

He also said that by ratifying the agreement, Indonesia was obliged to mitigate the haze and set up an institution to monitor the agreement's implementation.

Other legislators warned against ratifying the agreement, saying it would have negative implications for the country.

Agusman Effendi, who chairs the environment commission, said his commission had agreed to deliberate the bill to ratify the agreement on trans boundary haze pollution after consulting forest concession holders, plantation owners and informal leaders in Sumatra and Kalimantan, where much of the annual haze originates.

Sabam Sirait and Soeripto of the House's defense and foreign affairs commission condemned the agreement, which they said placed all responsibility for the haze on Indonesia.

They said that Indonesia should only ratify the agreement with reservations.

"Other countries have signed the agreement because they have no forests or only a few forest areas. To be consistent, Singapore and Malaysia should also be committed to fight illegal logging in Indonesia by stopping their use of illegal logs," said Sabam.

While all 10 ASEAN countries signed the agreement in 2002, Indonesia and the Philippines are yet to ratify it.

Bomer Pasaribu of the agriculture and forestry commission called on the government to be cautious of the legal consequences of ratifying the agreement.

Mandiri sets aside Rp 11t for plantations

Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Bank Mandiri will provide up to Rp 11 trillion (US$1.2 billion) in new loans to the small holder plantation sector over the next three years, says a senior Madiri executive.

The loans are intended to finance the development of up to 321,268 hectares of plantations by some 80,000 growers, and will be disbursed in stages between 2007 and 2010, Mandiri's micro and retail banking director, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, said at an agricultural expo Friday.

"The plantations concerned consist of those producing such commodities as palm oil, cocoa and rubber," he said.

The loans to small-scale plantation growers would be channeled through large-scale plantation companies, which would guarantee the loans, and provide advice and guidance to the growers.

Budi said that the new loans would increase the value of Mandiri's total outstanding loans to the plantation sector to Rp 14.39 trillion, consisting of Rp 11.3 trillion to industrial plantation firms and Rp 3.09 trillion to small-scale plantation cooperatives and growers. The bank has also provided Rp 7.14 trillion in loans to associated processing enterprises, he added

Mandiri's outstanding loans to the plantation sector account for 36 percent of the Rp 39.5 trillion in total borrowing by the sector, according to central bank figures.

Mandiri president Agus D. Martowardojo said the additional lending would support the government's program to revitalize the country's agricultural sector, develop the biofuel sector, and grow small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

A consortium of five state and local government banks recently banded together to provide Rp 25.56 trillion in loans for the development of the plantation sector, including plantations producing biofuel feedstock.

Besides Mandiri, which will provide Rp 11.08 trillion of the Rp 25.56 trillion, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) will stump up Rp 12 trillion, Bank Bukopin Rp 1 trillion, the West Sumatra provincial bank Rp 980 billion, and the North Sumatra provincial bank Rp 500 billion.

Indonesia is the world's largest palm oil producer. Palm oil, along with jatropha oil, can be processed into biodiesel, and is also used in the production of cooking oil, soap and detergent.

The country also has vast tracts of rubber plantations, most of which are owned and managed by small farmers or cooperatives operating as SMEs.

Palm oil and rubber, whose production and prices grew strongly last year, provided the backbone for Indonesia's strong 2006 export performance, bringing in more than $100 billion in foreign exchange earnings.

Agus said he expected the increased lending to the plantation sector to help Mandiri achieve its 20 percent lending growth target for this year.

Mandiri, Indonesia's largest lender by assets, saw lending grow by 10 percent to Rp 117.7 trillion last year.

S. Sumatra records 30 pollution cases

The Jakarta Post

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: More than 30 cases of environmental destruction, mostly in the form of pollution created by the oil and gas industries, were recorded over the past three years across South Sumatra.

The data was revealed by the director of the South Sumatran chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), Sri Lestari Kadariah, on Friday, who said the cases involved oil and gas pipe leaks, pipe explosions and oil well gushes. Three incidents have already occurred in the first three months of this year.

"The latest incident was a leak from state oil company Pertamina's processing unit tank, which polluted Rebo and Komering rivers on March 8, which so far has not been restored," Sri said.

She said Walhi investigated the case and found that Pertamina could only clean the oil sludge floating on the rivers by hiring villagers to conduct the manual labor.

The provincial Environmental Impact Control Agency sent a warning letter to Pertamina calling for the company to immediately remedy the situation and report the matter to the governor through the agency. -- JP

This drink isn't so safe, says group

The Jakarta Post

JAKARTA: A senior executive at the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) said Friday that the Food and Drug Monitoring Agency had allowed a beverage company to mislead consumers and provide distorted product information.

Indah Suksmanigsih said that a beverage marketed under the slogan "Safe to be consumed" still contained preservatives.

"As consumers, we are left with misleading information. According to the 1999 Consumer Protection Law, the use of the word 'safe' in marketing is a violation of consumer rights if accompanied without full content information," she told The Jakarta Post.

She added that there should be a warning on labels indicating the recommended intake per day of a beverage.

"Preservative content in the product can still damage one's health if consumed in excess," she added.

The YLKI has asked the regulatory body to revise its policy and ban the marketing slogan.--JP