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A forest under threat |
Home > Support us > Campaigns and appeals > Save the Sumatran rainforest > A forest under threat > Disappearing before our eyes
Disappearing before our eyes
Today, Sumatra has just 500,000 hectares of lowland forest left. These remaining forests are easily accessible to loggers and their heavy machinery. They are also crossed by rivers that are used by the loggers to float timber to nearby ports. Modern life stimulates a seemingly insatiable demand for natural resources, including timber and wood pulp. The wood from rainforests appears everywhere from outdoor furniture to plywood boards, and despite the electronic revolution demand for paper has soared. Mining, oil and gas exploitation plus associated infrastructures all also take a heavy toll on the forest. Palm oil production is a high priority for Indonesia, and the country has overtaken Malaysia as the world's biggest producer of palm oil. With all these pressures, it is no wonder that Sumatra's lowland rainforests have been disappearing before our eyes. |
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Misty forest canopy in Sumatra - (BirdLife International)
Rhinoceros hornbill, face on - Terry Whittaker/FLPA (FLPA)
Sumatran tiger - Dave Watts
Bird illustrations by Mike Langman (RSPB)