Page 24 - The World About Us

River Bahorok
1.1.1
2.1.5

Why is the Gunung Leuser rainforest valuable?

Biodiversity has reduced hydroelectricity
The high number of plant species produc on. Many people blame these
and variety of animals, from gers to water shortages on deforesta on in
leopard cats, orang utans and siamang, and around the park.
means that the loss of this park could Ecotourism
see species pushed closer to Ecotourism is becoming a
ex nc on.
significant economic ac vity in the
Food and mber park. Around 30,000 tourists each
Local people hunt and collect year, both from within Indonesia and
fruits and seeds in the forest. abroad, come to explore and enjoy the
However, this is threatened by rainforest of the Gunung Leuser NP.
deforesta on. The hardwood trees are At the edge of the park is the town
valued around the world. While of Bukit Lawang. Tourists can take
logging in the park is restricted, illegal treks in the rainforest as well as going
logging may be destroying 21,000 ‘tubing’; riding on large inner tubes
hectares of the park each year. down the Bahorok River. With park
Freshwater and soil protec on fees for foreign tourists set at INR
150,000 rupiah (£8.50), tourism is a
The forest helps bind the soil
together and stops it eroding under valuable source of income.
the intense tropical rainfall. The forest Medicinal Plants
also helps to keep water courses clean, fig.64 The endangered Siamang has Many rainforest plants are used by
clear and flowing all year. seen a decline of 50% in 40 years. local people for their medicinal
Hydroelectricity which has its origins in the Gunung quali es. Many of these medicinal
Leuser park. In recent years reduced proper es have yet to be
Many hydroelectric plants in the
Northern Aceh province use water rainfall and increased sedimenta on commercially exploited.

What are the threats to the Gunung Leuser rainforest?

While the Gunung Leuser Na onal illegal planta ons deeper in the park. tusks which are used for carving
Park is a protected area it is s ll at risk Although a 1999 court case ornaments and jewellery.
of deforesta on. Once the trees have awarded 30 million rupiahs in damage In 2016, patrols in Gunung Leuser
been removed, the complex for the problems associated with the and Way Kambas Na onal Parks
interrela onships of the rainforest planta on, the legal decision did not removed over 300 snares set for
break down and biodiversity is lost. stop extensive logging in the park. elephant, ger and deer, as well as 88
The threemost important causes of traps set for catching forest birds
deforesta on are palm oil planta ons, Wildlife conflicts intended for sale in the pet trade.
logging and road construc on. In 1982, Orang utans may have protected
a road project split the GLNP in two, status but they can come into conflict fig.65 Elephants are under threat from
leading to illegal se lements inside the with local villagers on the outskirts of conflict with farmers and ivory poaching.
park, as well as an ever-expanding the park. Orang utans are known to
wave of encroachment, illegal logging raid crops, which can threaten the
and poaching of endangered species. livelihood of already very poor farmers.
In 1995, 34 families, who lived in an Orang utans can be killed or injured by
enclave in the park, were granted farmers protec ng their crops.
permission to clear an area of 42km² to Elephants also come into conflict
create a palm oil planta on. An eleven with the park’s neighbouring farmers
kilometre road was authorised to help and can cause extensive crop damage
with this project. As a result, not only leading to the risk of retalia on. Some
were the areas of rainforest lost in the 440 human-elephant conflicts were
planta on but areas of forest were lost reported in 2016 around the park.
along the new road. The road also
Elephants are also under threat
established access for people to create
from illegal poaching for their ivory

24

Biodiverse ecosystems are under threat from human activity.