WWF Declare Special Conservation Area: Mount Lumut, Central Kalimantan

October 31st, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)-Indonesia has declared a protected forest in Mount Lumut in Barito Utara (Barut) district in Central Kalimantan a conservation area for Heart of Borneo (HoB) program. The protected forest in Mt. Lumut which covered 25,802 ha-land was considered a sacred place by native Dayak Hindu Kaharingan community.

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Volcanoes - Magnets for Tourists

October 17th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Seen as sacred in some local traditions, devotees living close to dangerous volcanoes are sometimes reluctant to evacuate when warnings are issued. The crater lake of Mt Kelud, for example, is thought to be a source of peace and prosperity by some living by its slopes. Thousands of tourists are also drawn to the symmetrical cones of volcanoes such as Bromo, one of Java’s most active, to see the sun rise through clouds of mist and volcanic steam; and Agung, Bali’s highest and most sacred volcano, which towers over the east of the island.

The History of Kue-Kue

October 13th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

In Indonesia kue-kue, sweet or savory snacks, are a familiar sight, found everywhere from food markets to star-studded events and grand weddings. However, during colonial times, kue-kue were not considered appropriate food for well-heeled individuals and it appeared only in traditional circles.

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Peatland to Palm Oil Not a Good Idea

October 11th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Indonesia needs to focus on reigning in the destruction of peatland along with illegal logging if it wants to tackle climate change, says Greenpeace International. Indonesia has approximately 60 percent of the world’s peatland swamps, around 20 million hectares.

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Global Warming Affects Orangutans: Central Kalimantan

October 8th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

A study predicts that global warming will further decimate the orangutan population in Sebangau National Park in Central Kalimantan, home to Indonesia’s largest orangutan habitat. About 6,900 orangutans out of the estimated 14,000 on Kalimantan Island currently occupy the 567,700-hectare park.

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Sebangau National Park: Central Kalimantan

September 25th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Once a concession zone, exploited without planning by local and national companies, Sebangau National Park in Central Kalimantan was declared a protected public forest on Oct. 19, 2004, through a Forestry Ministry decree.

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Heaven and Earth Religious Values Concerning Nature

September 24th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

The nation should look to values enshrined in age-old spiritual and traditional beliefs to better conserve its local biodiversity, the degradation of which is thought to be depleting at an alarming rate.

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Mandala Air Expands Routes: Bali

September 23rd, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Indonesia’s Mandala Airlines have announced three new routes from their new secondary air hub of Bali with the addition of Denpasar-Jogjakarta, Denpasar-Banjarmasin (Kalimantan) and Denpasar-Balikpapan (Kalimantan) - effective October 1, 2007.

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Teaching About the Environment: Kalimantan

September 14th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

With the widespread forest destruction in Central Kalimantan, a group of environmental activists is engaged in the training of primary school teachers in Katingan regency, in which environment education textbooks meant for local students are being tried out.

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Endangered Monkeys Found: South Kalimantan

September 9th, 2007 | By Barrie | No Comments »

Some 60 nasalis larvatus (with local name bekantan monkey) were found living in group in an untapped forest by researchers from the South Kalimantan-chapter of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

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