Endangered birds need to be saved<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Development in the Banten Bay area must be
\nreduced to save nearby coral reefs and a nearly-extinct species
\nof bird, environmental researchers said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Yus Rusila Noor, a researcher from Wetland International, a
\nnon-governmental organization which specializes in wetland
\nresearch, said that Dua Island, a tiny island among the Thousand
\nIslands north of Jakarta, is home to \"white storks\", known
\nlocally as wil-wo.<\/p>\n
There are approximately 5,000 of these white storks left in
\nthe world, 90 percent of which are in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Yus participated in the Banten Bay research project, which was
\njointly-held by the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
\nTechnology (BPPT), the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI)
\nand the Netherlands' government. The project's findings were
\nannounced yesterday during a workshop on Marine and Coastal
\nResearch.<\/p>\n
Wawan Kiswanto, a researcher at LIPI, said he was surprised to
\ndiscover that the coral reefs in the bay area are still pristine.
\n\"About 15 to 85 percent are in good condition,\" he said, adding
\nthat great effort should be made to maintain the present
\ncondition of the reefs.<\/p>\n
The researchers jointly conducted a feasibility study around
\nthe Banten Coastal Zone in anticipation of development projects
\nin the Greater Jakarta area and in the Cilegon-Merak area.<\/p>\n
Dwi Abad Tiwi, an urban planner at BPPT, said Banten Bay's
\nstrategic location has attracted rapid development of
\ninfrastructure and industry, including fish and shrimp ponds.
\nThere have also been rapid transfers of land ownership.<\/p>\n
\"We're not saying that development should be stopped
\naltogether. We are just saying that perhaps development effects
\ncan be reduced by closely monitoring the growth,\" Dwi added. (14)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/endangered-birds-need-to-be-saved-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}