Only 15-25,000 orangutans remain on Earth. They are confined to just two islands— Borneo and Sumatra in the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Logging, development, agriculture, and poaching are the leading threats to the orangutans, with logging playing the most devastating role. Within the next twenty to thirty years, these magnificent creatures could become extinct. More than 80% of the population has been lost since 1975, and up to 50% in the past decade.
Less than 25% of Indonesia’s old growth forests are still intact. About 2.5 million acres of Indonesian forest is lost each year. This is critical habitat not only to the orangutans, but to the incredible biodiversity found in Indonesia. The country is home to 10% of plant, 17% of bird, 12% of mammal, and 16% of reptile species, as the islands make up 10% of tropical forest cover. In addition, the indigenous Dayak and Batak peoples are encroached upon and threatened by logging operations. Orangutans spend almost all of their lives in the forest canopy, rarely touching the ground. This massive clearcutting drives the animals out and many die of starvation.
Logging of rainforest wood is the biggest cause of deforestation in the orangutans’ habitat. North American, European, and Japanese consumers can ultimately save the orangutans or wipe them off the face of the earth by reducing our wood consumption and refusing to buy rainforest woods. Woods like lauan, ramin, and jelutong are some of the most common timber exported from Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Lauan is a reddish-brown wood used as plywood, panelling, and drawers. Ramin is a light wood used in picture frames, dowel rods, tool handles, and furniture. Jelutong is a reddish wood used in pencils. The paper industry is also targetting this region, with native forests being cut and replaced with invasive pine, eucalyptus, and acacia plantations. Indonesia’s government hopes to have 10% of its forest land in pulp plantation by 2004.
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