An aerial view of a river in Riau Province where APRIL is restoring 150,000 ha of degraded peat forest. Image: Caine Delacy/ APRIL Amid recent reports of an increasing crisis in global biodiversity caused by habitat loss, land conversion for agriculture, climate change and pollution, an ecosystem restoration programme based in Indonesia has reported a win for wildlife. Called Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER), it recorded an increase in its biodiversity list within its forest restoration area in the 150,000ha of peat forest it is restoring on the Kampar Peninsula and Padang Island in Riau Province, Sumatra. Several species classified as globally threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recorded were found in the area, which is one of the largest remaining Sundaic lowland Tropical peat forests in Sumatra. According to RER’s recently published Progress Report 2018 , the number of unique plant and animal species recorded in the area grew from 717 in 2017 to 759 in 2018, including the critically endangered helmeted hornbill and Sumatran tiger. Established in 2013 by pulp and paper company, APRIL , RER is supported by partners Fauna & Flora International, and local non-government organisations (NGOs) BIDARA and Laskar Alam. Cranes […]
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