WWF launches Indonesian national parks

Two Indonesian national parks have been created following a collaboration between conservation group WWF and the Indonesian government. Announced at the Convention on Biological Diversity in Malaysia last week, the Tesso Nilo and Sebangau National Parks include some of the last remaining lowland forests on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

The parks are home to numerous sensitive animals, including elephants, tigers and orang-utans, and have the highest plant diversity levels in the world.

As part of the decision to protect the areas a timber company has withdrawn its logging rights, ensuring long-term conservation. Previous widespread clear-cutting of the forests would have wiped them out by 2010.

"Not long ago the lands for these parks were slated for logging. Today's announcement ensures that at least some of Sumatra and Borneo's unmatched biodiversity will be preserved," said Tom Dillon, director of WWF's Species Conservation Program. "We still have a long way to go before these parks are indeed functioning protected areas. Illegal logging and land conversion for corporate agriculture remain the biggest threats despite these areas being designated national parks."