Companies extend park conservation agreement<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Eight East Kalimantan-based companies united in
\nthe Friends of Kutai National Park (Mitra TN Kutai) have agreed
\nto continue their partnership in managing and developing the
\npark, which has been damaged by forest fire and illegal logging.<\/p>\n
Along with the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations' Director
\nGeneral of Natural Resources Protection and Conservation (PKA)
\nHarsono, top executives of the firms signed the fifth plan of
\naction here on Friday.<\/p>\n
The companies are gas producer PT. Badak NGL, state-owned
\nfertilizer firm PT. Pupuk Kaltim, coal mining companies PT.
\nIndominco Mandiri and PT. Kaltim Prima Coal, state oil company
\nPT. Pertamina and forest concession holders PT. Porodisa, PT.
\nSurya Hutani Jaya, and PT. Kiani Lestari.<\/p>\n
"Mitra TN Kutai is an example of the contribution from
\nindustries with operational areas near the national park,"
\nHarsono said.<\/p>\n
The partnership, Harsono said, is the first of its kind in
\nIndonesia and hopefully it can be adopted in 38 other national
\nparks, like Gunung Leuser in Aceh and Komodo in East Nusa
\nTenggara.<\/p>\n
Basically, the activities in the project include damaged area
\nrehabilitation, infrastructure development and increasing
\ncommunity participation in natural resources conservation.<\/p>\n
Last year's activities emphasized promotion of the park and
\nincluded essay writing contests, spots on radio talk shows, and
\ncross country events.<\/p>\n
The Mitra TN Kutai was established in 1996, with technical and
\nfinancial support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific
\nand Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations
\nDevelopment Program (UNDP).<\/p>\n
In 1998, the role of UNESCO and UNDP was replaced by USAID-
\nNatural Resources Management Program.<\/p>\n
Within four years of its inception, the coalition has raised
\nRp 4.454 billion in funds. For the current fiscal year, it has
\ncollected some Rp 890 million (US$100,000).<\/p>\n
"To be honest, the budget only covers the infrastructure,"
\nsaid the chairman of the organizing committee, Tonny Soehartono.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Tonny expects more companies to join the project.<\/p>\n
The Kutai National Park is located in East Kalimantan, with an
\narea of 200,000 hectares. It contains lowland rainforest with
\nmore than 500 species of trees, including the ulin tree
\n(eusideroxylon zwageri) which is endemic to East Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
The park is home to the orangutan (pogmo pygmaeus) and 80
\npercent of Kalimantan's bird species and 50 percent of
\nKalimantan's mammals.<\/p>\n
But the park has been seriously damaged due to forest fire,
\nillegal logging and land clearing. Now, only 30 percent of the
\narea survives.<\/p>\n
"We tried to rehabilitate the damaged areas, but the loggers
\nwere more powerful. And our budget is limited," Tonny said.(09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/companies-extend-park-conservation-agreement-1447893297",
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