In late March Friends of the Orangutans and Scorpion Wildlife Trade Monitoring Group carried out an undercover investigation in an antique store near Pontianak, West Kalimantan and found its owner to be in possession of orangutan skulls, sun bear paws and hornbill beaks, among other protected wildlife species.

Following our joint investigation Scorpion worked with Indonesian wildlife officials to confiscate the wildlife parts and arrest the store owner. We were informed yesterday, 21st April by Marison Guciano, Scorpion’s senior investigator, that the shop owner has been arrested by BKSDA (Indonesian wildlife authorities) and will be brought to court!

A BKSDA official with a orangutan skull

With our ally Sabahat Alam Malaysia (SAM), FOTO organised a protest on April 12th that was held in front of KTS Trading’s office in Penang. KTS is one of the “Big Six” of Sarawak and owns shares in BLD which is responsible for the destruction of peatland in Sarawak. Both KTS and BLD are owned by the same person, Dato Henry Lau one of the richest man in the state.

Below is our press statement:

NGO Demands End to Peat Destruction by BLD Plantation

BLD Plantation Berhad, a Malaysian palm oil company operating in Sarawak owned by the KTS Group – one of the ‘Big Six’ of Sarawak’s timber corporations – has been exposed clearing peatland for oil palm planting in their concession located north of Sibu.

Since BLD obtained the license to exploit the area in 2000 they have cleared over 12,000 hectares (ha) of peatland out of the 20,400 ha concession, according to findings of Malaysian NGO Friends of the Orangutans (FOTO). Peatland is a fragile and unique ecosystem, and development on peat causes severe environmental impacts.

Deforestation (red areas) and forest degradation (orange) from 2001 to 2015 in BLD concession in the North of Sibu.

“We have been on the ground in BLD’s Igan concession and despite being exposed months ago the company continues to destroy carbon rich peatland, creating drainage canals and roads for further oil palm plantings,” said Upreshpal Singh, FOTO’s Director.

BLD continues to create drainage canals to stabilize the substrate for near-future oil palm planting.

Planting oil palms on peatland requires creation of drainage canals to stabilize substrate, which in combination with above ground vegetation removal patently have significant environmental impacts by releasing massive amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and by increasing both the frequency and intensity of flooding events. Other consequences of planting oil palms on peatland are the loss of biodiversity, the increased susceptibility to fires and the erosion of soil.

“We contacted BLD several times since last year to ask the company to stop the destruction. We even offered them our assistance for implementing a ‘No Deforestation, No peat and No Exploitation’ policy as the company appears to not have one. They chose to ignore us” said Upreshpal.

In 2015 Bunge Limited, an American based agribusiness giant suspended trading with Kirana Palm Oil Refinery Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of BLD, for not complying with the former’s sustainability policies.

Aside from the environmental impacts of BLD’s operations a local Iban community in Igan claims that the palm oil company had encroached their NCR lands. For this reason villagers from the villagers are dragging BLD to court. According to FOTO it is not the first lawsuit BLD is facing for allegations of NCR land encroachment by local communities.

“We received reports that a good number of residents from several villages in the Igan area have had to look for jobs in Sibu city and elsewhere as after BLD had converted forests into oil palm plantations, what was previously available in the forests, now has to be bought” said Upreshpal. Other communities have also informed FOTO that their livelihood have severely been affected since BLD started their operations on the communities’ ancestral lands.

Villagers from kampung Tutus in front of a drainage canal built by BLD in the South-East of the concession in preparation for more palm oil planting.

In March Wan Abdillah Hamid, BLD’s Executive Director, published an article in the Borneo Post questioning the veracity of claims by FOTO and other organizations of BLD’s environmentally destructive practices in its concession. Wan Abdillah claimed the relationship of BLD with the local communities have been “cordial” and “productive“.

According to Wan Abdillah BLD has helped build houses, a school and even provided electricity for villages. However, this claim has been questioned by FOTO, “One village in Igan, when informed of this claim, scoffed the company” added Upreshpal, “our investigation in other villages in the concession barely showed any sign of development“.

Since last year, FOTO, together with an alliance of local and international NGO have been taking action in order to stop BLD’s operations in this concession. In October 2015, representatives of this alliance officially met the Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem in Kuching, presenting evidence of BLD’s clearing on peat. Tan Sri Adenan Satem assured them of his desire to protect Sarawak’s natural resources. However, as of now, the Sarawak government still has not taken any action to stop BLD.

“Our repeated emails to the chief minister’s office have not been replied. Chief Minister Adenan declared there would be no more deforestation for palm oil in Sarawak but carbon rich peat forests and local communities continue to suffer at the hands of BLD” concluded Upreshpal.

The NGO concluded by claiming that BLD’s continued destruction of Sarawak’s peatland has gotten global attention and brings much embarrassment to Sarawak and Malaysia, especially when much of Sarawak’s forests have been decimated and countless indigenous locals have been affected by the destruction.

-end-

Please find here SAM’s press statement

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/04/138759/sarawak-urged-protect-its-peatland

On March 6th the Borneo Post published a scathing article written by Haji Wan Abdillah Hamid, the Executive Director of BLD Plantation Bhd. (BLD), a palm oil company which has been exposed clearing peatland for oil palm plantations near Sibu, Sarawak. Borneo Post published a second article on March 23rd. In both publications Mr. Abdillah questioned the veracity of expose by Friends of the Orangutans (FOTO) and other organizations including Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA) and Sarawak Report of BLD’s environmentally destructive practices in its concession in the Igan area.

Since BLD obtained the license to plant oil palms in the aforementioned area in 2000, they had cleared over 12,000 ha out of the 20,400 ha concession, at the very least. In the initial publication Mr. Abdillah claims “there were little or no timber trees left standing and could not be classified or maintained as a forest by any definition”. According to the villagers in Kampung Tutus, one of the villages in Igan which have been affected by the company, even after year 2000 the area surrounding their village (also part of their NCR land) was still forested and they had used it as a mean of subsistence before BLD cleared and replaced it with oil palm plantations. As a result, Kg. Tutus villagers are dragging BLD (and another palm oil company) to court to win their NCR lands back. Alarmingly, we have been informed by a villager of intimidation by the company related to BLD’s legal embroilment.

BLD continues to clear peatland and create drainage canals in their concession

BLD claims its relationship with local communities is productive, amicable and cordial. Based on investigation by FOTO and our partners these claims appear to be quite contrary. The company claims it has helped build houses, a school and even provided electricity for villages in its concession. One village, when informed of this claim, scoffed the company. Investigation in other villages in the concession barely showed any sign of development. Thus, we urge BLD to make public its claims of development.

Mr. Abdillah mentioned the creation of jobs for locals by BLD. How many of its employees are Sarawakians? We have been informed by several villages a good number of its residents have sought jobs in Sibu city and elsewhere as after BLD had converted forests into oil palm plantations what was previously available in the forests (e.g fruits,vegetables, meat) now had to be bought. But why have those villagers forced to look for employment work elsewhere and not for BLD? Could it be because the company employs foreigners mostly? Some local employees interviewed claimed the company paid them poorly. Some locals might have benefited financially from BLD, but how many have, compared to those villages who have suffered losses?

Foreign workers inside the concession, when interviewed, informed their passports are withheld by the management. Will BLD explain? Isn’t it illegal to keep hold of its employees’ passports?

A shack found within the concession in which several workers along with their wives and children live

On the environmental side of things Mr. Abdillah accused FOTO of “slanderous allegations” and questioned the veracity of our and other organizations’ reports after we exposed BLD of clearing carbon rich peatland to establish oil palm plantations. All reports are verified by satellite images, photographs and interviews of villagers in and outside BLD’s Igan concession before they are made public.

Photographs have proven the company’s continued construction of canals to drain very deep peat in preparation for even more oil palm plantations. It is therefore ironic that the writer claims to be concerned about climate change and “exercising good environmental practices” while BLD continues to do great harm to the environment. FOTO strongly encourages BLD to make the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of its Igan concession public.

BLD’s Executive Director stated that “KTS and/or BLD are willing to participate and engage with anyone having genuine intention and professionalism in exercising good environmental practices“. However, our emails to BLD have never been replied to and the management refused to address our concerns through phone calls. In fact, in one of our emails we offered the company assistance in drafting a ‘No Deforestation, No Peat and No Exploitation’ policy as it appears the company does not have any sustainability policy. Could it be because the company would be forced to stop destroying forests including on peatland if they did?

In 2015 Bunge Limited, an American based agribusiness giant suspended trading with Kirana Palm Oil Refinery Sdn. Bhd., a subsidiary of BLD. Why would they do so if BLD didn’t do anything wrong?

Sarawak chief minister Adenan Satem has previously announced “we (state of Sarawak) are not going to open up any more plantations” and “We should not reduce forests and other natural resources to make money and put our future at risk”. So why are BLD allowed to continue destroy peatland in Sarawak at the expense of the environment? Is it business as usual for the ‘Big Six’ of Sarawak?

BLD’s continued destruction of Sarawak’s peatland has gotten global attention and brings much embarrassment to Sarawak and Malaysia, especially when much of Sarawak’s forests have been decimated and countless indigenous locals have been affected by the destruction.

FOTO demands BLD stops further clearing of peatland in the aforementioned concession with immediate effect.

Update about our campaign to stop Shangri-La from exploiting orangutans in their luxurious resort in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah:

FOTO was informed earlier this week and is please to announce that the two remaining orangutans at the luxury resort will be sent back to the Sepilok rehabilitation centre on Thursday 31st of March, officially ending the Shangri-La Group’s 20 years exploitation of Sabah’s orphan orangutans!

This so called “orangutan rehabilitation” programme was initiated in 1996 with the approval of the Sabah Wildlife Department. FOTO has been campaigning since last year and despite numerous attempts to contact Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria’s management we never received reply from them.

Thank you to all our supporters!

If you wish to check out for more information please read our post here.

We will bring more updates as we get them.

The news we’ve all been waiting for is here! Shangri-la Rasa Ria Resort’s exploitation of orangutans to end in April! Please see the article at this link for more information.

The resort made it look like there are voluntarily ending the exploitation, and we will soon respond to it. But without your support for our campaign we assure you the exploitation would never stop.

In early February one orangutan was sent back to Sepilok.

Our petition will remain open until we know the remaining two infants at the resort are returned to Sepilok in April, and we will inform all supporters and declare victory! In the meantime please sign and share our petition and tweet to Shangri-La.

THANK YOU for your support. Without it this news would never come!

Friends of the Orangutans are currently looking to employ a full-time Forest Campaigner. Please see details below:

Responsibilities:
• Collect and analyze remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) data from opan source databases
• Create and manipulate GIS data
• Produce detailed map graphics for a diversity of projects using GIS
• Develop, coordinate and manage projects on forest resources management and conservation of orangutan habitat, hard-hitting campaigns including existing ones
• Write news releases, letters to the media for publishing
• Communicate with media outlets, government agencies, zoos, NGOs, etc
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Director

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in forestry/conservation biology/natural resource management or other related field
• Knowledge of principles, practices and application of GIS; representation of synthetic result maps
• Knowledge in remote sensing data and be willing to learn the use of highly specified software (e.g. CLASlite 3.2)
• Expansive knowledge interest in the Malaysian landscape in regards to environment and wildlife conservation, palm oil industry, forest management
• Fervent passion and beliefs in animal rights and environmental issues
• Meticulous and consistent approach to work, and ability to produce quality results
• Minimum 1 year experience in conservation
• Proficient in Bahasa Melayu and English, written and spoken
• Ability to multitask, work independently and meet deadlines with limited supervision
• Willing to relocate and travel, in and outside Malaysia
• Computer proficient
• Commitment to the objectives of the organization
• Applicant must be a Malaysian citizen

How to apply:

•Email us your resume & include a covering letter to explain why you want to be part of Friends of the Orangutans (FOTO), at info@fotomalaysia.org
•Include two (2) contactable referees in your resume.
•Applications without a covering letter and referees will be rejected.
•State your starting expected salary.

Full time position only – on a annual contractual basis
Deadline for application: 25 March 2016
Employment begins in mid-April
Only short-listed candidates will be notified.

Alternatively, you may apply through Jobstreet at this link.

http://www.jobstreet.com.my/en/job/2880020