NEW DELHI (India CSR): Pangolins, globally, are being pushed to the brink of extinction due to rampant poaching for their meat and scales, which are falsely believed to have medicinal properties. Recently, news reports highlighted how Indonesian authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle over a ton of endangered pangolin scales worth more than a million dollars. According to law enforcement officials, 1.2 tonnes of scales, valued at US$ 1.3 million, were discovered in North Sumatra’s Asahan district. The shipment was allegedly intended for China via Malaysia and Singapore.
Additional Threats: Habitat Loss and Climate Change
Beyond illegal trafficking and poaching, these innocent creatures also face severe threats from habitat loss and climate change, making their protection an urgent necessity. In response, an Indian social enterprise is taking a meaningful step to safeguard pangolins in Indonesia. Grow-Trees.com, known for its large-scale afforestation initiatives in India, has launched the Trees for Sunda Pangolins project, aiming to plant 50,000 trees in Lela Village, West Kalimantan Province, Indonesia.
Grow-Trees.com’s Initiative to Protect Pangolins
“This tree planting initiative originates from the deep concern over the critical challenges Sunda Pangolins face due to habitat destruction and relentless poaching. Though the International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the species as critically endangered, it is the most trafficked mammal in the world, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of the illegal wildlife trade. By restoring degraded forest areas, many of which have been destroyed by human activities such as palm oil plantation expansion, our effort is to create a safe, thriving ecosystem where pangolins can find food, shelter, and breeding grounds,” says Pradip Shah, co-founder of Grow-Trees.com.
Importance of Tree Cover for Sunda Pangolins
Since Sunda pangolins are adept climbers that rely on tree cover for shelter and access to ant nests, creating a well-forested environment is crucial for their survival. Accordingly, the trees selected for the project include species like Shorea balangaren and Dyera polyphylla, which provide dense canopy cover, preferred by pangolins for protection and shelter.
Challenges Faced in Implementing the Project
Meanwhile, Shah also talked about some of the challenges that they faced while implementing the project in Indonesia. “A major challenge is deforestation caused by land clearing for palm oil and timber plantations. Indonesia also has a high vulnerability to forest fires. Peatlands, which store large amounts of carbon, are particularly susceptible to these fires. When damaged, they release significant carbon emissions, further accelerating climate change,” he adds.
Broader Impact on Other Wildlife
Not just pangolins, but other mammals such as the long-tailed macaque, sun bear, black lutung, wild boar and lesser mouse deer will also benefit from the restored habitats, gaining better shelter and food sources. “As this is a new project, measuring the impact of our plantation efforts on local wildlife, particularly pangolins, will take time,” says Mr Shah.
Community Involvement and Employment Generation
He adds that the project actively involves local community members, from planting to nurturing the trees, creating employment opportunities and providing an additional source of income.
(India CSR)
