deforestation in Sumatra reached alarming levels, with more than 45% of the rain forest cleared in the last 20 years. Only a few areas remain, resisting bulldozers, chainsaws and fires. Batang Toru Forest, in northern Sumatra, is a hot spot of extraordinary biodiversity where tigers, ora ngutans and other wonders of nature still survive.
During the seven-hour drive from Medan to Tarutung, in northern Sumatra, repeating the same pattern of palm or rubber trees perfectly aligned is hypnotic. Millions of hectares of forests have been cleared over the past 20 years to meet global demand for palm oil, paper and rubber products. Many experts agree that if this trend is not stopped, within 20 years there will be no natural forest left in Sumatra. Nearly Tarutung, it provides one of the last intact areas of primary forest -. The "Harangan Tapanuli" or Batang Toru Forest
In the most remote area of the forest Batang Toru, some of the last Sumatran tigers still live. Tigers are classified as critically endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). They are not alone on the list; even the orangutan of Sumatra and the Malayan pangolin - both critically endangered - are in this forest. Orangutans and tigers suffer because of deforestation, and pangolins are an easy target for poachers that their meat is sold at a very high price. 15 species in the forests are classified as either endangered or vulnerable, as siamangs (a tailless, arboreal, black furred gibbon), agile gibbons, tapirs and sun bears.
In many extraordinary places in the world, there are some extraordinary people who work hard to preserve. One of them is Matthew Novak, a primate expert with the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), working to save some orangutans in the wild from extinction.
How did you come to work in Indonesia, Batang Toru and why?
In 2006, I was doing my gibbons studies in white hands in Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, focusing on how they move in their environment and acquire food resources. I'm always interested in how great ape species coexist with other primate competitors, especially the other monkeys. This situation is unusual, and it is only seen in a few countries in Africa and Asia.
While in Thailand, I had learned the Batang Toru Forest and the important conservation work that SOCP doing there. I quickly became me very interested in working in the area because it is one of the only places in the world where three great ape species can be found living together in one place (the agile gibbon, the Siamang, and the population the southernmost of the orangutans of Sumatra). In fact, the presence of three monkey species living in the same area occurs only in Aceh and North Sumatra Provinces of. I was given the opportunity to do my doctoral research at the Batang Toru monitoring station SOCP, and in 2010 I came to Sumatra to begin my research on monkeys Batang Toru Forest Complex.
The Batang Toru Forest is one of the few natural areas left in North Sumatra. What do you think is the main reason for this? What are the treasures that this forest still protects?
I am pleased to report that the majority of the Batang Toru Forest complex has just officially become Hutan lindung (protected forest) recently, both in the provincial development plan and map of distribution of the latest forests of Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. This is a huge achievement of conservation for all involved and is a key step in the protection of this unique forest area, especially since only 25% of the approximately 134,000 hectares of the Batang Toru forest complex had historically been allocated as Hutan lindung .
The Batang Toru Forest complex is a unique mosaic of forest types ranging from 150 to 1.800 meters elevation above the sea level and is home to many tropical plants and animals, many these rare and living only in this region. For example, the long-term work of SOCP has identified more than 200 species of plants, 50 species of mammals, over 250 species of birds and at least 130 species of amphibians and reptiles. Notable species of mammals include the Sumatran orangutan critically endangered Sumatran tiger and tapir of Sumatra. It is actually the only forest in Sumatra, where these three species coexist!
Although the Batang Toru forest complex recently received protected forest status, rugged terrain and high altitude of much of the remaining forest were relatively inaccessible and inefficient for both small-scale and large-scale extraction forces. This is in stark contrast to the majority of lowland forests of Sumatra, which saw a huge amount of deforestation, degradation and fragmentation in recent decades. As such, the Batang Toru Forest Complex is one of the few remaining old growth primary forests left in northern Sumatra.
An orangutan male in the forest of Batang Toru
The main threats to the flora and fauna come from illegal encroachment, the logging (legal and illegal), mining (both small scale and large scale), hunting / poaching, and poor planning of land use. As the condition of the forest has been changed for protection, it is still unclear how these threats will affect the future integrity of the Batang Toru Forest complex; However, it is clear that their continued impact could eventually devastate this unique rainforest hideaway.
We know that at least 130,000 people living along the banks of the Batang Toru forest complex and many other benefits of its environmental services (eg fresh water, climate regulation, sliding Course / flood prevention, and in some cases sustainable extraction of non-timber products). The change in Hutan lindung is a very important development as it will allow local management of cooperation and protection of the forest complex. At the same time, the status Hutan lindung is not as restrictive as the status Taman Nasional (or the national park), and residents can continue to benefit from the sustainable use of the forest area.
What is your dream for the Batang Toru forest?
I would be very happy to see the large complex Batang Toru Forest on the agenda of all three districts Tapanuli, North Sumatra province and the Indonesian government, with support local riding protect this important water catchment area, not only for the ecosystem services it provides to communities and industries around the forest, but also be very proud and protective its unique biodiversity.
How to help:
Spread the word about this unique forest area, helping to create a conservation constituency local level in north Sumatra, and donate to conservation efforts during the SOCP.
www.batangtoru.org/
http://www.sumatranorangutan.org/support-us