What A Surprise! Asia Pulp & Paper Clear-Cuts Area It Pledged As Tiger Sanctuary, Then Denies It
Asia Pulp & Paper (APP)'s supplier PT Ruas Utama Jaya has indeed cleared an area of forest it pledged to set aside as a tiger conservation reserve in Sumatra reports a legal analysis by Greenomics [PDF], an Indonesian environmental group. The Greenomics' analysis supports allegations originally set forth in a report published last week by Eyes of the Forest, a coalition of green groups, and seems to refute a press release issued by APP that called the deforestation allegations "fiction".
"If we adhere to this map, then the EoF statement that 'By June 2011, RUJ had even begun clearing the tiny block of natural forest (less than 5,000 ha) APP had set aside for its own 'Senepis Tiger Sanctuary' simply cannot be denied by APP," states the concession analysis by Greenomics. "At the commitment level, it is only reasonable for EoF to say that RUJ, an APP wood supplier, had cleared its own Senepis Tiger Sanctuary."
However APP continues to maintain that its tiger reserve is intact. "The map presented by WWF/EOF is out of date," APP told mongabay.com via email. "The plans for Senepis were revised after this map was produced." "The final map, approved by the government, has been published by APP. It shows clearly that the co-ordinates provided by WWF/EOF are outside of the Senepis Tiger Sanctuary, and point to a legal pulpwood plantation operated by our supplier."
(LEFT) The map of RUJ’s previous legal concession map prior to being changed as a result of "micro-delineation" — a process required for pulp plantations which specifies how concession land will be managed. (RIGHT) RUJ concession map after micro-delineation, showing an area of the tiger conservation reserve being allocated for an acacia plantation. EoF charges this change reflects APP's failure to respect its conservation pledge. APP says the government signed off on the reallocation. Images courtesy of Greenomics.
EDIT
http://news.mongabay.com/2011/1221-greenomics_eof_vs_app.html