Walhi Urges Govt To Set Batang Toru As Protected Forest

Jakarta, May 14 (Antara) - The Indonesian Forum for Environment (Walhi) urged the government to increase the status of Batang Toru Forest in Central Tapanuli District, North Sumatra, to be a protected forest as the area holds high biodiversity. "Batang Toru Forest has very high biodiversity. However, the woods` existence is threatened because it still serves as a production forest or limited production forest," Manager of Mining and Energy Campaign of Walhi Pius Ginting said here, Tuesday. Batang Toru Forest has an area of 133,000 hectares of primary forest which is inhabited by some protected animals such as Sumatran tiger, tapir, sun bear, kuau bird and Sumatran orangutan. According to the study of Nater et.al (2012), the sumatran orangutan inhabiting Batang Toru forest has unique genetics other than those living in Aceh or Leuser. The Batang Toru`s orangutan is presumably an `ancient` population which had been separated from its native group due to the eruption of Mount Toba thousands years ago. The population of Batang Toru`s orangutan also spread to Kalimantan Island and become the ancestor of all orangutan population. There are estimated around 400-600 orangutan in Batang Toru Forest. Thus, its ecosystem needs to be protected, Ginting said. Batang Toru Forest also has very rare flora such as rafflesia cf micropylor-gadutensis, ancient tree podocarpaceae and some stunning orchids. Therefore, stable Batang Toru ecosystem is necessary to support a renewable energy project such as Sipansihaporas hydro-powered Electrical Plant (PLTA). The downstream area of Batang Toru is mainly used as agriculture and plantation area. Proper water supply from Batang Toru is, therefore, necessary to support the agriculture and plantation sectors as well as to provide clean water for the society living in the downstream. "Therefore, the idea to increase the status of the forest into a protected forest is necessary," Ginting said. The upgraded status would also prevent forest destruction from mining activity as there will be no permit for extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth of the protected forest.