As the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) approaches its 40th anniversary later this year, the organization is revisiting past editions of its newsletter, showcasing its ongoing commitment to uncovering environmental crime and advocating for conservation.
Today, the focus is on a 2001 edition detailing EIA’s collaborative efforts with partner organization Telapak (now Kaoem Telapak) to safeguard Indonesia’s forests, particularly the Tanjung Puting National Park, home to the critically endangered orangutan species.
At the time, illegal logging within the park was rampant, leading to the destruction of approximately two million hectares of forest annually. This activity not only displaced local communities but also threatened the survival of orangutans by encroaching upon their habitat.
Undeterred by the risks, EIA investigators embarked on a daring campaign, braving violence, kidnapping, and personal threats. In August 2001, despite the dangers, they ventured back into the forest to confront the loggers directly. Enduring challenges such as mosquito bites, leeches, and treacherous river crossings, the team traversed the park, documenting evidence of illegal logging activities and wildlife observation.
Their efforts yielded crucial insights into the operations of logging bosses and their financiers, which were promptly shared with the Ministry of Forests. Additionally, EIA successfully traced illegally sourced Indonesian timber to consumer markets in Europe, the USA, Japan, and China, highlighting the global dimensions of the issue.
In September 2001, EIA presented its findings at an influential East Asia Ministerial conference, where governmental representatives from the region and key consumer countries convened. The result was a landmark agreement on forest law enforcement, marking a significant milestone in the decades-long efforts to combat deforestation and environmental exploitation.