Environment minister complains bird hunting ban ignored<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government ban against all bird hunting,
\nissued last April, has been largely ignored, said State Minister
\nof Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.<\/p>\n
Sarwono disclosed the existence of the ban, which had not been
\npreviously announced, on Thursday, the eve of the national flora
\nand fauna day which falls today.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said the ban was stipulated in decree No.29\/1994,
\nissued by the Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. on Apr.
\n27, 1994.<\/p>\n
The ban followed reports that hunting birds in Central Java
\nhas lead to a significant decrease in their population which, in
\nturn, has lead to an increase in the number of pests.<\/p>\n
Ironically, bird hunting in the area is conducted by rice
\nfarmers to protect their crops against the birds.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said the request to ban bird hunting came from his
\noffice because it goes against Law No.5\/1990 on Biological
\nResources and the Ecosystems and Presidential Decree No.4\/1993 on
\nNational Flora and Fauna and the Identity of Local Flora and
\nFauna.<\/p>\n
\"Anyone violating the rule can be sentenced up to 10 years in
\njail and fined Rp 100 million,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
However, he realized that it would be impossible to enforce
\nthe ban immediately. \"We have to educate the public to care about
\nthe environment,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has 47 types of ecosystems with 10 percent of the
\nworld's species of flora, 12 percent of the world's species of
\nmammal, 16 percent of the world's species of reptiles, 17 percent
\nof the world's species of birds and 25 percent of the world's
\nspecies of fish being found here.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's bio-diversity resources have only been partially
\nused, with its full potential yet to be explored.<\/p>\n
\"On the other hand, the wealth of Indonesia's bio-diversity
\nresources is declining because of human activities and
\ndevelopment,\" Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
Integrated conservation efforts toward sustainable use of
\nflora and fauna is the theme of this year's Love Flora and Fauna
\nNational Day.<\/p>\n
Stamps<\/p>\n
Every year on Flora and Fauna Day, the Ministry of Post and
\nTelecommunication issues stamps in conjunction with day's theme.
\nThese themes have been planned through to the year 2000.<\/p>\n
In commemoration of the day, President Soeharto will sign the
\nfirst cover of Flora and Fauna Stamps today.<\/p>\n
Elephants<\/p>\n
In observance of the day, Sarwono said his office is paying
\nspecial attention to the problem of elephants, which have ravaged
\nplantations and villages in many parts of Sumatra, and the
\nillegal catching, by poison, and trading of Napoleon fish
\n(cheilinus undulatus).<\/p>\n
He called for better planning of human and elephant settlement
\nas an effort to cope with the problem of elephants.<\/p>\n
On the Napoleon fish, Sarwono suggested the United Nations
\nConference on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
\nput the fish on its list. Although the fish is not an endangered
\nspecies, it is necessary to ban its trading because the way they
\nare caught damages the environment.<\/p>\n
He said the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture
\nhave agreed to his proposal.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will take part in the CITES meeting, scheduled to
\ntake place next week in Florida.<\/p>\n
Admitting there are still wide practices of illegal trade in
\nendangered species, Sarwono blamed the public's poor
\nenvironmental awareness and lack of coordination among the
\nrelevant government offices.<\/p>\n
Beginning this year, Indonesia's representatives at the CITES
\nmeetings will not only include the Indonesian Science Institute
\nand the Ministry of Forestry, but also the offices of the State
\nMinister of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, which
\nhave not been involved in past meetings.(sim)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environment-minister-complains-bird-hunting-ban-ignored-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}