Jeremy Hance

Earlier this month at a colloquium to implement wildlife corridors for orangutans in the Malaysian state of Sabah, Dr. Yusof Basiron, the CEO of Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), told conservationists and primate experts that the palm oil industry was ready to fund reforestation efforts in the corridors.

"We can raise the money to replant [the corridors] and keep contributing as a subsidy in the replanting process of this corridor for connecting forests," Basiron said in response to a question on how the palm oil industry will contribute. "Money is not a problem. The commitment is already there, the pressure is already very strong for this to be done, so it's just trying to get the thing into motion."

http://news.mongabay.com/2009/1026-hance_basiron.html

26/10/2009
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Wildlife conservationists say a boom in palm oil -- used extensively for biofuel and processed food like margarine -- has affected the jungles in Borneo, endangering the already declining orangutan populations, AFP reported.

Experts believe that among the 50,000 to 60,000 orangutans left in the wild, some 80 percent of them are in Indonesia and the rest in Malaysia's Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak.

However, the charismatic red-haired apes will be virtually eliminated in the wild within two decades if current deforestation trends continue, according to a 2007 assessment by the United Nations Environment Program

Source: RedOrbit Staff & Wire Reports

http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1773869/palm_oil_boom_creates_danger_for_orangutans/

22/10/2009
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The Ministry of Forestry and wildlife, in partnership with a non
governmental organization, have launched a muscular campaign in Yaounde
against dealers in bush meat.

http://www.crtv.cm/cont/nouvelles/nouvelles_sola_fr.php?idField=5244&table=nouvelles&sub=politique

21/10/2009
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Some of the seized bushmeat on display following markets raids in
Cameroon, including parts of gorillas, monkeys, pangolins, turtles,
tortoises, crocodiles, snakes, antelopes, monitor lizards, hornbills and
rodents Click on photo to enlarge © Eva Paule MOUZONG / TRAFFIC

http://www.traffic.org/home/2009/10/21/operation-punch-delivers-knockout-blow-to-illegal-bushmeat-m.html

21/10/2009
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The scale of bushmeat trade in Central Africa may be much larger than
originally thought.

Cambridge, UK - New analytical techniques have revealed that the scale
of bushmeat trade in Central Africa may be much larger than originally
thought, according to a study published today by TRAFFIC, the wildlife
trade monitoring network.

19/10/2009
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Gorilla dung could conceivably be the salvation of the planet.

A leading UK wildlife expert today said protecting the large primates he called the "gardeners of the forest" could provide the easy fix for global warming envisaged by international reforestation programmes.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/13/gorilla-forests-climate-change-redmond

13/10/2009
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