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DiCaprio’s documentary highlights Mt. Leuser deforestation
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Chairperson of Forest, Nature, and Environment Aceh (HAkA) Farwiza Farhan (from left to right), Conservation Manager of Leuser Conservation Forum (FKL) Rudi Putra and actor Leonardo DiCaprio are flanked by two critically endangered Sumatra elephants in the Leuser Ecosystem on March 26. (HAkA/Paul Hilton)
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scar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary Before the Flood, which revolves around climate change issues and includes his visit to Mount Leuser National Park in Aceh, has premiered in Los Angeles, California, and will be aired on the National Geographic Channel on Oct. 30.
Directed by Fisher Stevens, Before the Flood reveals the condition of Leuser Ecosystem, a UNESCO world heritage site that covers thousands of hectares of protected forest in Aceh and North Sumatra, which is endangered due to high rate of deforestation.
“The movie is important to inform people about deforestation caused by oil palm plantations, which drives climate change. We have to aggressively solve the deforestation crisis in places such as Leuser Ecosystem,” Rainforest Action Network executive director Lindsey Allen said in a press release as reported by Antara news agency.
(Read also: DiCaprio unveils climate change film 'Before the Flood')
Allen said half of all packaged products sold in supermarkets contained palm oil and it that it was up to the public to decide whether it wanted to push big brands like PepsiCo to disconnect their products from deforestation.
DiCaprio met Allen at the 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference (COP21) to discuss the dangerous situation faced by Leuser Ecosystem that also contributes to climate change.
Allen also said deforestation made Indonesia one of the biggest carbon emitter countries in the world.
(Read also: Big banks support firms linked to deforestation)
Before the Flood started filming at the end of 2015. The documentary also features Indonesia’s forest fires problem, which produces a higher amount of carbon pollution compared to the average of all economy activities in the US per day.
Besides documenting DiCaprio's trip in Leuser Ecosystem, the movie also features his visits to the North Pole, Vatican City and the White House in Washington DC, US.
DiCaprio’s visit to Leuser Ecosystem drew public attention following reports that the Law and Human Rights Ministry's Directorate General of Immigration had threatened to deport the actor if he violated his tourist visa.
The actor later committed to be the main financier for Leuser Ecosystem for three years and supports both local and foreign efforts to save the area. (jes/kes)
A video posted by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on
