JAKARTA, December 5, 2017. Proboscis monkeys (Nasalis larvatus) or animals typical of Kalimantan currently need special attention. Based on the results of research conducted by several researchers from various institutions, the proboscis monkey population shows a downward trend due to its habitat which is increasingly eroded by human activities. Whereas the existence of proboscis monkeys is an indicator of a healthy ecosystem that can support human welfare. The fate of this proboscis monkey was "dissected" at the Proboscis Monkey Book Review event: The Struggle Against Extinction" held at the Library of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Jakarta.

There were eight speakers who discussed the fate of the proboscis monkey in the future. They are Prof. Hadi Alikodra, Professor of Forestry IPB, Ir. Wiratno M.Sc Director General KSDAE, Dr. Sofian Iskandar from the Center for Forestry Research and Development KLHK, Chairul Saleh, Species Specialist WWF-Indonesia, Fairus Mulia from PT Kandelia Alam and Fitrian Ardiansyah from IDH. Two public figures and honorary supporters of WWF-Indonesia also enlivened the book review of this proboscis monkey. Both are Nugie and Davina Veronica, who also shared their experiences when visiting the proboscis monkey habitat.

IPB Professor Prof. Hadi S, Alikodra said that unconsciously, human life depends on the proboscis monkey. Because, the integrity of its habitat also supports human life in the vicinity and throughout the world. "The world community can also enjoy the integrity of the proboscis monkey habitat. Because, mangrove forests which are the habitat of proboscis monkeys are quite high carbon sinks," he explained.

The Ministry of Environment and Forestry reported that Indonesia has 3,489,140.68 hectares (2015) of mangrove forests within a coastline of 95,181 square kilometers. Of the world's 16,530,000 hectares of mangroves, 23 percent are in Indonesia. This area stores 3.24 billion metric tons of carbon (Murdiyarso et al., 2015), or one-third of the world's carbon storage (Pendleton et al., 2012).

A 2014 UNEP (United Nation Environmental Protection) research report entitled "The Importance of Mangroves to People: A Call To Action" states that mangrove forests can sequester large amounts of carbon, averaging about 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare over thousands of years stored in biomass and soil layers.

The future of the proboscis monkey is in a very critical state. Habitat destruction and conversion, forest fires and illegal logging are the main causes of the proboscis monkey population decline. Until 1995, it was recorded that the remaining proboscis monkey habitat was around 39 percent and only 15 percent was located in conservation areas.

Riparian forest degradation of proboscis monkey habitat is taking place rapidly. In general, these areas have high economic value for people living around the riverbanks. In daily life, the river is the main transportation route for the community, while the riparian forest is used by the community as settlements and fields.

This has caused the proboscis monkey population to continue to decline and the distribution of sub-populations to become more compartmentalized (greater distance between sub-populations) (Bismark and Iskandar, 2002; Ma'ruf, 2004). In addition, the community's perception that proboscis monkeys are pests that disturb fields can threaten the sustainability of proboscis monkey populations in nature (Sunjoto et al., 2005).

"The government has included the proboscis monkey as one of the priority conservation species that will increase its population by 10 percent. However, it must be recognized that this target is quite difficult to achieve," said Chairul Saleh.

According to Chairul, commitment and collaboration from all parties are needed to save and increase the proboscis monkey population. For example, local governments can include proboscis monkeys in development and spatial planning, so that proboscis monkey habitat is not increasingly eroded by development in the region.

Habitat degradation and its impact on hunting and land conversion has reduced the proboscis monkey population by 90 percent in the last 20 years and in mangrove forests, the population decline is 3.1 percent per year (Bismark, 2002).

In addition, there has been a process of adaptation of proboscis monkeys that are pushed towards plantations but cannot be separated from their need for water sources, lakes and rivers with various plants as river borders or small lakes (Soendjoto, et al., 2005).

The strong pressure on proboscis monkey populations and habitats at this time is a basis for consideration to encourage awareness and concern of the wider community. Especially policy makers to jointly encourage conservation efforts for proboscis monkeys in Kalimantan.

In West Kalimantan, the initiative of collaborative management of proboscis monkey habitat and population has been started by WWF-Indonesia in Kubu landscape, West Kalimantan. This initiative is run through project support from IDH Sustainable Trade and involves both government and private sector roles.

On the other hand, the potential of biodiversity in proboscis monkey habitats can also be maximized, such as in terms of bioprospection research. This is very useful in the biopharmaceutical industry, which can open up new jobs for local communities around the habitat. It is hoped that this book can be a future reference for the conservation and protection of proboscis monkey habitat, in addition to supporting the implementation of proboscis monkey conservation strategies and action plans.

-FINISH-

For more information, please contact:
 Lia Syafitri (Communication Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program)
PHONE: +62 812 5734 743 | Email: lsyafitri@wwf.id
 Diah R Sulistiowati (Communications Coordinator of WWF-Indonesia's Forest, Freshwater, and Terrestrial Species Program)
PHONE: +62 811 1004 397 | Email: dsulistiowati@wwf.id

Editor's Note

Proboscis monkeys are endemic to Borneo and are protected under Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Conservation of Living Natural Resources and Ecosystems with conservation status of endangered (IUCN) and Appendix I (CITES).

This primate species has an important ecological role in wetland ecosystems and mangrove areas, and as a regulator of forest silviculture. However, its existence is increasingly threatened by habitat loss caused mainly by illegal logging and forest conversion, as well as by hunting activities.

According to McNeely et al. (1990), out of 29,500 km2 of proboscis monkey habitat, 40 percent has been reduced, while only 4.1 percent is in conservation areas. In 2000, the rate of deforestation of proboscis monkey habitat reached 3.49 percent per year.

Of the six ecosystem types of proboscis monkey habitat, by 1995 there had been a decrease in habitat area of between 20-88 percent (Meijaard and Nijman, 2000) and the rate of decline of this habitat, both inside and outside the area was two percent per year (Manangsang, et al., 2005). As a result, proboscis monkey populations are likely to decline as these primates are less tolerant of habitat destruction (Wilson and Wilson, 1975; Yeager, 1992).