Basten Gokkon

JAKARTA — An Indonesian court has overturned the conviction of environmental activist Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan on widely criticized hate speech charges for highlighting the damaged caused by illegal shrimp farms in a protected marine park. The May 21 ruling by the Semarang High Court in Central Java province quashes the April 4 conviction handed down by the Jepara District Court that found Daniel’s Facebook post about the environmental degradation of Karimunjawa National Park constituted hate speech and caused public unrest. Daniel was one of the four activists from the environmental movement #SaveKarimunjawa charged under the controversial 2008 law on online speech. The appeal court judges stated that Daniel’s intent in writing the posts was to defend the right to a healthy environment, which is enshrined in Indonesia’s Constitution. Experts had strongly criticized the legal proceedings against the four environmental activists, labeling them as a systematic attempt by the authorities to suppress, scare and stifle dissent using what are known as SLAPP tactics, short for strategic lawsuits against public participation. “Daniel’s acquittal should be a whip for the Indonesian police and attorney general’s office to be careful in applying the law so as not to criminalize activists,” Sekar Banjaran Ari, a coordinator at the NGO Public Interest Lawyer Network (Pil-Net) Indonesia, told Mongabay on May 22. Daniel Frits Maurits Tangkilisan has been acquitted of online hate speech over a Facebook post criticizing illegal shrimp farms operating in Karimunjawa National Park. Image courtesy of Lentera Jawa Tengah. Sekar added that Daniel’s…This article was originally published on Mongabay

… The post Indonesian Activist Freed in Hate Speech Case After Flagging Illegal Shrimp Farms appeared first on Global Research.

TAKALAR/EAST LOMBOK/JAKARTA, Indonesia — Mustam Daeng Beta exhaled slowly before he began describing his time as a young fisherman many years ago. “Fish bombing was regular, also using poison,” Daeng Beta told Mongabay Indonesia in an interview on April 22 at his home in the village of Tompotana in Indonesia’s Takalar district, South Sulawesi province. […]

A recent study revealed that Bali's coastline shrank from 668.64 kilometers (415.47 miles) to 662.59 km (411.71 mi) between 2016 and 2021 due to

JAKARTA — Indonesia’s Bali island is shrinking at a faster rate than most coastal areas in the world due to human activities and wave circulation, according to a recently published study. Bali’s shoreline decreased to 662.59 kilometers (411.71 miles) from 668.64 km (415.47 mi) between 2016 and 2021 at an average rate of -1.21 meters (3.97 feet) annually, said a group of researchers from Indonesia, Japan and Turkiye (Turkey) in their paper published on May 29 in the journal Regional Studies in Marine Science. Globally, 24% of the world’s sandy beaches have faced erosion at rates more than 0.5 m (1.6 ft) per year. Coastal erosion in the U.S. causes an estimated $500 million in property loss and damage annually. They warned that the continuous erosion coupled with the ongoing rise in sea level might exacerbate coastal flooding and further retreatment, threatening surrounding ecosystems, infrastructure and communities. Bali’s coastal zone is vital for its socioeconomic and cultural heritage, serving as a settlement center for most of the population, driving the economy through tourism and holding deep cultural, traditional and religious significance. “Asia’s coasts are under threat from increasing sea levels and rapid development,” the paper read. “These problems frequently result from inadequate planning and funding for managing erosion.” A Google Map showing the location of Sumberkima on the Indonesian island of Bali. Bali’s sole existing toll road, the Bali Mandara highway, was completed in 2013. Image by Ya, saya inBaliTimur via Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0). Shoreline is a crucial indicator…This article was originally published on Mongabay

Indonesia must integrate marine protection measures into its subsidies for small-scale fishers, according to a new study.

JAKARTA — A new study on Javan leopards has found that areas with higher numbers of the endangered subspecies have richer wildlife diversity than those from where the elusive big cats are absent. More Javan leopards (Panthera pardus melas) in a given habitat correspond to higher richness and abundance of other animals that coexist in […]

JAKARTA — A new study on Javan leopards has found that areas with higher numbers of the endangered subspecies have richer wildlife diversity than those from where the elusive big cats are absent.

JAKARTA — Indonesia's recently updated conservation law continues to prioritize terrestrial protection, raising concerns over much-needed improvements to the management of the country's rich marine ecosystems and resources.

JAKARTA — In Indonesia's North Sumatra province, conservation groups and authorities have built canopy bridges that stitch back together primate habitat, including for orangutans, that were fragmented by roads over the years.