Jun 27, 2010

International Workshop on Orangutan Conservation

Event. The Indonesian Ministry of Forestry’s Nature Conservation and Forest Protection Agency (PHKA), in cooperation with the Indonesian Orangutan Forum (FORINA), has organized the International Workshop on Orangutan Conservation (IWOC) to be held at the Sanur Beach Hotel in Bali on July 15 and 16, 2010. The event, supported of the USAID Orangutan Conservation Services Program (OCSP) and 16 conservation organizations in Indonesia, will focus around the theme “What does the future hold for the man of the forest?”

Background.Orangutans are Asia’s only great ape and are icons of Indonesia’s wondrous lowland rainforest. Found only on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, orangutans are classified as endangered and are protected by Indonesian law. However, the development of forest resources, which assists Indonesia to achieve economic development, places the forests where orangutans live under threat. The rapid rate of deforestation that has resulted over the past 20 years has come at a great cost to orangutans. In 2007, orangutan conservationists and scientists, government officials, community members and private sector representatives initiated a process of working together to seek viable solutions to ensure the orangutan’s continued survival amidst Indonesia’s drive for economic development. This resulted in the formalization of the Ministry of Forestry’s National Strategy and Action Plan for Orangutan Conservation. The National Action Plan, announced by the Indonesian President at the Bali Climate Conference, is a multi‐stakeholder conservation strategy that incorporates public, private, and local interests, and finds common ground in orangutan conservation among stakeholders with various interests. The IWOC will build upon the multistakeholder process that resulted in the National Action Plan by again bringing together representatives of key groups and seek collaboration in ensuring a secure future for the orangutan in Indonesia.

Participants.It is expected that one hundred and fifty to two hundred individuals from a range of organizations will take part in the work shop. Participants will represent local and international conservation organizations, private companies, bilateral and multilateral organizations, research institutions and the Indonesian government. Senior officials of the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry and the United States Embassy are also expected to attend the workshop. Miss Indonesia 2008 and current Orangutan Goodwill Ambassador, Zivanna Letisha Siregar, will serve as master of ceremonies.

Workshop Objective.The workshop aims to create a road map for increased participation and collaboration by scientists, conservationists, government agencies, private companies, and local communities in orangutan conservation, and to detail specific action they will take individually and collectively to help save Asia’s only great ape.

Program.The workshop will be opened by the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. This will be followed by a brief review of current issues and workshop aims by Professor Bungaran Saragih, a former Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and current Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation. The first day will continue with four plenary sessions, on policy revisions (presented by the National Forestry Council – DKN), sustainable financing (KEHATI –the Indonesia Biodiversity Foundation), research to improve orangutan habitat management (Professor Carel van Schaik of Zurich University), and the rehabilitation and release of orangutan into the wild by 2015 (Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and PanEco‐SOCP). These topics will be discussed further in breakout sessions during the afternoon. On the second day, four stakeholder forums consisting of government, NGOs, the private sector, and researchers and supporters will discuss current conservation issues and develop recommendations to support the long‐term survival of the orangutan. They will present these recommendations at the final plenary session, to be conveyed to the Ministry of Forestry and FORINA at the workshop close. Displays. The event will also feature displays by conservation organizations and private companies that showcase their innovative projects and activities to save the orangutan and its habitat.

About FORINA

The Indonesian Orangutan Forum (FORINA) was established to act as the catalyst to take the 2007 National Strategy and Action Plan for Orangutan Conservation from concept to implementation. As a central local coordinating body for orangutan conservation in Indonesia, FORINA encourages cooperation among the numerous stakeholders whose actions impact orangutan survival. FORINA has also been set up to communicate conservation successes and challenges to national and international audiences, and establish linkages to support orangutan conservation programs both within Indonesia and globally. The International Workshop on Orangutan Conservation is supported by OCSP‐USAID, PERHAPPI, WWF Indonesia, FFI Indonesia, WCS Indonesia, CI Indonesia, TNC Indonesia, PanEco‐YEL, FZS, BOSF, OFI, OF‐UK, YAYORIN, GRASP, UNESCO, SOS‐OIC, YLI

For more information about this event and USAID‐OCSP’s work to save Indonesian orangutans, please contact Mika Maharani GC, OCSP Communication Manager, at mika_gynecologia@dai.com, or visit the OCSP website: www.theworldiswatching.info

Jun 24, 2010

Leave Nothing But Footprints

The Jakarta Post -- WEEKENDER | Sun, 11/23/2008 3:31 PM |

You’ve gone over the list countless times. Will it be a shamelessly self-indulgent R&R weekend in Legian? Or a slightly more adventurous journey into the highlands of Tana Toraja? There’s also that Mt. Bromo trip your spouse keeps pestering you about. Hmmm ... Settle for Orchard Road? Ubaidillah Syohih trains his green binoculars on your next holiday destination.

Holidays are a time to bond and spend some leisurely time with your loved ones or friends. At the planning stage, when half a dozen ideas on where to head off to are floating around, holidays also do a very good job of fraying nerves. So before the Lonely Planet guides and maps start flying across the room, here are some things to keep in mind.

In a country such as Indonesia, with its seemingly endless range of awesome destinations, you will always be spoiled for choice. Hundreds of volcanoes to climb, rainforests to trek, waves to surf, reefs to explore, beaches to roast on, more than 250 ethnic groups with 350 local languages to discover ... There’s something for everyone. But regardless of the destination, with every additional dive down the reef wall or every new bungalow, the destination loses a little something.

It’s not just a piece of coral that is inadvertently broken during a dive, or a small food wrapper that gets caught in the wind and ends up decorating the forest. The aggregate impact of our holiday, from transportation (emissions, traffic) to the hotel we’re staying at (energy and water use), can damage the prospects of a holiday destination to sustain tourists over the long term. Indonesia may need visitors, but it also needs them to tread lightly and respectfully. With people from all over the world traveling to the archipelago to witness nature at its creative best, there’s only one way to safeguard these destinations: responsible tourism.

Now you may have heard about ecotourism, also known as ecological tourism, a catchall term that has been eagerly appended to many a hotel and resort name. At best, this is a form of responsible tourism that appeals to ecologically and socially conscious individuals. It typically involves travel to destinations where flora, fauna and cultural heritage are the primary attractions. At worst, it is a hotel called “Bunga Ecotourism Resort” whose claim to sustainability is limited to a glossy brochure flaunting the natural merits of the area.

How can we select a rewarding holiday destination without leaving a trail of destruction in our wake?

PLANNING
1. Decide on what kind of holiday you are after – will it be backpacking or operator-tour style?
2. If you go for the tour operator, ask where your money is going or find out by yourself – staying in locally owned accommodation benefits local families.
3. In choosing your activities at the destination, go for environmentally friendly activities that contribute to the local economy and protect nature and culture.
4. Small gifts from home can be a great way to say thank you to your hosts – think about what might be of most use to the local community.
Review your options: www.eco-tropicalresorts.com/indian/indonesia.htm

BEFORE YOU GO
Before you bounce out the door, there are a few things that need to be taken care of.
1. Make sure that all electric appliances are switched off, and that there are no leaks.
2. If you are going on vacation with your own vehicle, make sure that it is well maintained so you don’t pollute the places you visit. It would be better if you used public transportation, such as a bus or train, to reach your destination.

WHEN YOU’RE THERE
Only a few hotels in Indonesia are managed in an environmentally friendly way, so it’s up to you to do your bit.
1. In many remote places around Indonesia, fresh water is scarce. Keep this in mind when you wash, and keep those showers short.
2. Towels can be used for at least two days without being washed, to reduce energy and water used to clean them.
3. Remember to switch off lights and air conditioning when you leave the room to reduce energy use.
4. Of course, never buy products made from marine turtles and insist on eating locally caught fish.
5. You can also encourage the hotel by presenting the manager with a list of environmental tips for green hotels. If your hotel or homestay prides itself as an ecotourism facility, make sure you ask them why and how.

More tips at http://www.charityguide.org/volunteer/fifteen/green-hotels.htm

“KILL NOTHING BUT TIME, TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES AND LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS”

You have probably heard this well-known phrase. By killing nothing but time and by taking nothing but pictures, you protect the environment and wildlife. And by leaving nothing but footprints, you make a positive impact on local communities, such as preventing the loss of culture.

Jun 23, 2010

Environmental Jobs

Jun 22, 2010

Environment Jobs

International Programs and Membership Assistant, Friends of the Earth International, Amsterdam
Leader, Global Climate and Energy Initiative, WWF International, One of the key WWF network offices, Highly competitive salary package
Systems & Network Engineer, Greenpeace International, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Ranger - Deer Grazing Project, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Pirbright, £22,000 - £25,000 pa
ARCH - Project and Communications Co-ordinator, Kent County Council, Maidstone, Kent, Starting salary £30,220
Assistant Warden, RSPB, Mid Yare Reserve, Norfolk, £14,000 - £16,000 pa
Kelvingrove Information Officer, RSPB, Glasgow, £15,000 - £16,500 pa
Biodiversity Management Planning Project Officer, Tristan da Cunha, RSPB, Tristan da Cunha, £18,000 - £24,000 pa
Head of Product Marketing - Maternity Cover, Woodland Trust, Grantham, Lincolnshire, £35,000 - £40,000 pa
Funding Officer, Devon Wildlife Trust, Exeter, £19,401 pro rata plus 5% pension
Project Warden, Life + Nature, The National Trust, Orford Ness, Suffolk, £17,260 pa
Community Development Officer (Community Engagement Officer), Durham County Council, Co. Durham, £22,221 - £23,708
Programme Development Officer (Landscape Partnership Manager), Durham County Council, Co. Durham, £27,052 - £28,636
Marketing & Adminstration Assistant, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumberland, £14,548 plus pension contribution
Marketing Officer, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumberland, £24,062 plus pension contribution
People & Wildlife Manager, Surrey Wildlife Trust, Surrey, £25,000 - £30,000 pa
Visitor Engagement and Conservation Manager, The National Trust, Lyveden New Bield, Oundle, Peterborough, £22,057
Farm Conservation Adviser, Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group Ltd, Suffolk, £19,426 - £22,777
Conservation Trainee, Community Team (Berkshire), Berks Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust, Based near Maidenhead, Berkshire , -
Work Week Volunteer, Borders Environmental Education Services, Northumberland , -
Volunteer Gardener, The National Trust, Castle Drogo, North Dartmoor, Devon , -
SRLI Research Intern x2, Institute of Zoology, London , -
Volunteer Officer - Torquay, BTCV, Torquay , -
Exeter Youth Group Volunteer Officer, BTCV Devon, Exeter , -
Volunteer Film Editor, Embrace Cooperation Ltd, Brixton , -
Volunteer Trainee Nature Reserve Warden x4, Kent Wildlife Trust, Various sites in Mid & West Kent , -
Volunteer Planning and Policy Assistant, Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol , -
Volunteer Placement in Island Ecology Research and Conservation, Archipelagos (Ikaria, Greece), Ikaria, NE Aegean, Greece , -
Volunteer GIS Analyst(s) for Terrestrial and Marine Ecology Research, Archipelagos (Ikaria, Greece), Ikaria, NE Aegean, Greece , -
Mammals on Roads Survey Volunteers, People's Trust for Endangered Species, UK Wide , -
Volunteer Warden/Gardener, The National Trust, Dyrham Park, near Bath , -
Conservation Work Week Volunteer, Trees for Life, Highlands , -

via environmentjob.co.uk