By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda

Jakarta (12/02)-WWF-Indonesia launched a public campaign called “Year of Endangered Tiger 2010” on Friday (12/02) in Taman Menteng, Central Jakarta. The campaign was also conducted globally within WWF Network at the same time in several countries where tiger population exist.
At the press conference to launch The Year of Endangered Tiger 2010 campaign presenting Ministry of Forestry’s Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation (PHKA), Ir. Darori, MM, the deputy for spatial planning at the State Ministry for the Environment, Ir. Hermin Roosita, M.M and WWF-Indonesia Director of Forest, Freshwater and Terrestrial Species Program Ian Kosasih, some joint efforts carried by multistakeholders in saving Sumatran Tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) were mentioned.
“Indonesia used to have 3 tiger subspecies: Javan tiger, Balinese tiger, and Sumatran tiger. Now, there is only one species remaining: the Sumatran tiger. The Balinese tiger were considered to become extinct snce 1940’s while Javan tiger vanished since early 1980. Sumatran tiger is predicted to become extinct. There are only 400 individuals left in the wild,” Ian Kosasih said.

The year of tiger moment became very important for saving this exotic big cats from extinction. In the last 25 years, Sumatra has lost 12 millions ha of forests or half of the entire Sumatra natural forests. With so much forest loss, the tigers have nowhere to go. Moreover, the tigers are also facing other serious threats such as rampant poaching and tiger-human conflicts.
“I believe this is the right moment for us, to put our efforts together, change the trend during the last 25 years, creating a better future for Sumatran tiger,” Ian added.
Meanwhile, Darori explained Ministry of Forestry efforts in saving the tiger through strategic document and action plan regarding Sumatran tiger conservation 2007-2017. He was optimistic if there is a comprehensive knowledge from all parties regarding tiger living space, in 2017, Sumatran tiger population will not be threatened.
Darori realized that the lack of knowledge about tiger conservation became a significant element causing the number of tiger deaths increased.
“Many people living near conservation area which actually are not allowed for settlements. The tiger then felt threatened and attacked human. It happened because we had encroached the tigers’ habitat. Most local people didn’t really understand the situation. Learning from what happened in the field, Ministry of Forestry will definately put big efforts into conducting workshop and knowledge transfer to the villagers,” Darori said.

Darori added, Indonesia’s serious effort in saving the Sumatran charismatic species received appreciation from International world. In the first meeting “Asian Ministerial Conference (AMC)” for tiger conservation in Bangkok on January 2010, Indonesia was proposed by World Bank to host the next Ministrial-level meeting preceeding Tiger Summit meeting in Vladivostoc, Russia.
The State Ministry for the Environment’s Deputy for Environmental Planning, Hermin Roosita, told journalists that the government has showed commitment to developing ecosystem-based spatial plan in Sumatra. “The Ministry has promoted and guided the follow up of 10 Sumatran Governors agreement to conduct ecosystem-based spatial plan in Sumatra. The ecosystem-based spatial plan will save the Sumatra ecosystem and its species including tiger. Moreover, it will also prevent the local people from social conflicts, animals-human conflicts, the decline of economic activities and biodiversity loss,” Hermin explained.
Musician-cum-WWF-Indonesia Honorary Supporter, Nugie urged public to start doing simple things as their participation in protecting tigers. “Start using less paper. It means that we have helped prevent the forest as the tigers home from destruction. Don’t make tigers as your pet, stop buying and using acessories, decorations, or anything made of tiger body parts. There are many things we can do to contribute this saving the tigers effort,” he said.

Series of activities in YOT campaign also presented photo journalist Hikaru Nagatake, Indonesian photographer Jerry Aurum and WWF-Indonesia Honorary Supporters Nugie and Davina discussing environmental education through photography and Wonder Eyes project. There were also Barongsai performance, teatrical action ‘Shaolin Panda Saves the Tiger”, Barongsai, Wushu, and musical performance presenting Dear Nancy The band, The Brandals, Endah Resha duo, and a cappella group “Jamaica Cafe.”
Several booths in the exhibition area have enlivened the launching of WWF Year of Tiger campaign. For instance Green Cafe providing environmentally friendly products and “Sahabat Harimau” booth, a WWF’s donation program for funding Sumatran tiger conservation efforts.