Dec 10, 2007, 11:17 GMT
Bali Island, Indonesia - Indonesia is preparing a conservation programme to protect orangutans and their habitats in Borneo and Sumatra, Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Monday at the World Climate Conference on Bali.
'The key understanding is to save the orangutans. For that we must save the forest and by that we are doing our part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,' Yudhoyono said.
Urangutan habitat is decreasing as a result of rapid deforestation. The great apes are then often shot by farmers as the animals seek nourishment in the large palm oil planations that are encroaching deeper into the forest.
According to Yudhoyono, at least 50,000 orangutans have been killed in the last years. On Borneo there are still around 54,000 orangutans, but 'without protection they will die out by 2050,' said the president.
Together with environmental organizations, Indonesia plans to create sustainable conservation of orangutan habitat by placing more forests under nature preserve status.
Wood, paper and palm oil plantations in the future will have to apply for deforesting licenses which will be contingent on forest conservation.
The Indonesian government also hopes to be able to sell carbon dioxide emission certificates to greenhouse gas producers in order to lower the overall emissions.
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