West Java: Efforts to Protect the Silvery Gibbon thwarted byvillager’s entitlement

Protecting the critically endangered silvery gibbon — a rare primate
endemic to a few scattered forests in Java — is proving to be
increasingly difficult with poachers targeting them for their soft and
velvety fur while locals remain unsympathetic to their plight. “If we
can’t take timber from the forest anymore, then how will our children
and grandchildren build houses?” said Iskandar, a villager from
Cisalimar village in Sukabumi regency, West Java.

This question was
raised during a meeting aimed at sharing information regarding the
forest corridor at Mount Halimun Salak National Park. epresentatives
from three kampongs, experts, the park head and around 30 others
attended the discussion. The central debate focused on whether or not
villagers should be allowed to enter the forest and cut down trees,
though other issues such as the restoration of the park’s 1,200
hectare forest corridor were also discussed.

If the deforestation of
the corridor continues, the habitats and communication patterns for
the silvery gibbon (Hylobates moloch) will be further restricted,
putting the future survival of their species at risk. Currently, they
are found in Javanese forests, particularly in areas within Mount Gede
Pangrango National Park, the Mount Halimun Salak National Park and the
Ujung Kulon National Park. Head of Mount Halimun Salak National Park,
Bambang Supriyanto, said the protected area covers around 113,357
hectares of forest. It has been divided into three sections, located
in Sukabumi and Bogor in West Java and in Banten province.
http://cempaka-nature.blogspot.com/2008/12/adopting-trees-to-save-gibbon.html

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