Indonesia's Environmental Problems

Indonesia is a rich country with a plenty of natural resources in almost every sectors such as, agricultures, fisheries, and even forestry. Nowadays, across the world has been demanding for Indonesia's natural resources such as fish, palm oil, timber, gold, oil and gas. To supplying the demands of the another country and also to keep Indonesia's financial status, Indonesia keeps exporting its natural resources. The problem is that a lot of these activities are illegal.

Kalimantan forest loss for years

One example of the activities is deforestation. Indonesia lost a massive 1,87 ha of forest every year. In 5 years Indonesia lost 9.36 million ha which is the same size of Portugal. Several impacts occurred such as habitat loss for endangered species, loss of livelihoods, and the worst is loss of revenue for the governments. The major cause of deforestation is a huge demand for palm oil, since palm oil is the major source of Indonesia's income and this sector give a massive amount of job opportunities. However, this sector comes at a heavy price, because where plantations are created in high conservation forests area, there will be a complete loss of forest ecological functions and socioeconomic benefits for locals. 

Riau, Sumatera deforestation rate

Source:

WWF©. (2007). Environmental problems in Indonesia. Retrieved from 

http://wwf.panda.org/who_we_are/wwf_offices/indonesia/environmental_problems_indonesia/

Indonesia's Last Glaciers

Indonesia is one of the strangest regions with glaciers can be found. As we know, Indonesia is an equatorial island which means, there is always sunshine. On the mountain range of Pegunungan Maoke, in the Irian Jaya (East Part of Indonesia) there are ice fields that still remain, sadly they are shrinking continuously.

Location of the highest mountains in Papua.

Predominant rainy weather and warming the bedrock triggers the rapid melting of the remaining ice. In 2003, the ice field of the high mountain of Puncak Mandala and Puncak Trikora disappeared. The ice-archive on the Indonesia’s mountains is important record for the climate at the Pacific Ocean. 

Peak of Jaya Wijaya in 1936

Peak of Jaya Wijaya in 1972

References:

Bressan, David. (2010). Indonesia's Last Glaciers. Retrieved from http://historyofgeology.blogspot.com/2010/08/indonesias-last-glacier.html