The WWF charity is concerned that a massive logging operation planned by one of the world’s largest paper companies will destroy the forests which are home to 100 Sumatran organutans. The joint venture between Asia Pulp & Paper and the Sinar Mas Group has been given a license to clear the largest portion of natural forest remaining outside the Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Jambi Province, Sumatra. The companies could convert all remaining natural forest outside the park in the province, which is one of the most important areas for biodiversity on the planet.

Last year the companies completed a logging highway through this unique natural foreste to allow easier transport of wood to pulp mills. The WWF is concerned that the Asia Pulp & Paper comapny could start natural forest conversion and has written to the Ministry of Forestry to ask the agency to not allow them to do this as the area is already one of the most endangered forests on all of Sumatra. This particular forest area is essential for the  100 last 400 endangered Sumatran tigers and the estimated 60 endangered Sumatran elephants still left in the wild.

In the last 20 years Sumatra has lost 12 million hectares of natural forest, nearly 50% of Sumatra’s total forestry. Indonesian Ministries of Forestry as well as the governors of all 10 Sumatran provinces,  announced their collective commitment to protecting the areas of the island with high conservation values. Now is the time to act before all the natural forestry and the animals they house is destroyed.