Great too that Indonesia recognised with REDD+, but it has also recently been recognised with the first and only Indonesian entry to the UN List of World Heritage Sites in Danger (http://whc.unesco.org/en/danger), with there being many, many chances given to the government to take action to avoid being listed, but it seems that billion infusion from Norway wasn't put to much use (at least not towards its intended target!).

Have to say I agree too that there are often many more effective actors necessarily put in the background by the often much louder and larger NGOs like Greenpeace WWF WCS etc. It's not to say there isn't a place for all of them, I support Greenpeace and co., but it's often the smaller local NGOs that know the region and its issues best, which are then often ridden and a bit exploited by the larger set on an as-needed basis, with little to no subsequent credit given.

I'm all for progress here, and try to work for it everyday, but I just don't see much of it, yet?

'Progress' may be undeniable on paper, but in reality on the ground there is anything but that. There only continues to be internal bickering and ineptness on behalf of the government, with more often than not them making it more and more difficult for the NGOs and other stakeholders on the ground who are actually doing something to try and conserve the environment, as they actually care about things like living and their grandchildrens' futures, rather than many in government forestry, BBKSDA, etc. who are just at work, the same as any disinterested staff at an Indomaret.

Yes sure it's great to make a National Action Plan for orangutans, with an edict stating that all ex-captives must be released by 2015, but are we anywhere near that? God no!

Enakajah - Whilst I understand what you are saying - groups like GP and CND whilst troublesome are the catalysts to many great things - They alert us to often govt or business stupidity and greed - Sometimes they go over the top but mostly I think we would be worse off without them. This is just a total PR blunder and begs the question what are we hiding. First we would not allow the Singapore airforce permission to fly over 'virgin forest' then we find drug plantations in 'virgin forest' and now whilst publiclly stating improvements etc - this

PS Sauven was not alerted that his visa has been cancelled prior to departure

Blighty - we will maintain the rapid destruction of what we have - I was in Kalimanten recently and was shocked to tears at a vast area of wasteland - Only 3 years ago it was lush forest - its not even being destroyed to farm just to log and log illegally by local residents selling to larger firms - that is one way they are getting around the rules

enakajah - So, do you think that the World would be a better place without Greenpeace, and their ilk, whatever it is that you mean by "their ilk", caring people maybe? Do you believe that Greenpeace members, several million I believe, and its dedicated staff and volunteers of thousands, are not achieving anything with regards to saving our planet, that they are wasting their time? And who are the heavyweights in Indonesia working behind the scenes? Are they heavier than the likes of Sinar Mas? What have they achieved? The Sumatran tigers are almost extinct; does it really matter about the bloody maths? I am sorry but I find it very strange, you suggest that the likes of Greenpeace and WWF staff are not qualified to be government advisers, well not in Indonesia for sure, they would need to be corruptible and lacking in all morals and conscience.

Does the Planet, which many believe is at tipping point, have time to wait? Does life on Earth have time to wait?

I have got to admit that I don;t have much time for Greenpeace or their tactics. Between them and WWF they spend a great deal of time telling us that there are only 400 Sumatran tigers left in the world every time one gets killed. Mathematics does not seem to be their strong point. Credibility suffers in this area. They play on the emotive side of things, as Alan says, world wide in their destructive tactics rather than as suggested taking part as government advisors ( which they couldn't do anyway as they simply are not qualified for the job).

Whilst I tend to agree that unless someone does something nothing will happen but as Alan points out massive steps are being taken to rectify the gargantuan task of sorting out the deplorable state that the forestry and other related departments are in with licenses, contract areas, and permits to log. Plus of course the field operations in logging where only 1 in 3 log cut down are actually registered.

Rectifying this situation takes time in any country not just here. Ineffectual as the government may seem on the surface there are some heavy weight actors on the job and working to resolve the situation despite the numerous vested interests of the political elite.

If nothing else the government are talking and acting which is the first step. Whether or not GP et al continue on or their CEO's are allowed in or not is in fact irrelevant. The country needs to generate income, jobs and progress at the same time balance this with the environmental protection necessary to retain some semblance of an environmental plan for the future. It is far more intricate than it appears on the surface. The country has only been independent for 60-70 years and laws have had to progress at lightening speed to keep up across the board.

Forestry protection is of course a priority now but it has been languishing in the hands of the corrupt and irresponsible for decades and it cannot be cleared up over night.

Over and above this there are a great number of people and organizations working much harder on this than and to more effect Greenpeace and their ilk. Most of them achieve more before lunch than GP etc do in a year and this goes unrecognized but does go on and on.

The reason the Greenpeace exec is denied entry? State secret? I think we have delusions of grandure here. There is a problem with GP that is getting out of control. The usual tactic of Indonesian politics and government is to blame the victim in the interests of maintaining the peace. This is nothing new.

Arok,

I have got to agree. Even with an Ads blocker these endless pop up and roll over ads are so annoying this is like lt o be my last visit to JG. I would rather pay a subscription than be harassed by these ads.