Environmentalists set up biodiversity network<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Environmentalists here have agreed to establish
\na cooperation network to fight the increasing danger of biopiracy
\nand exploitation of the country's rich biodiversity by
\nirresponsible businesses.<\/p>\n
The desire to establish such a network was one of the outcomes
\nof the three-day 2001 Indonesian Biodiversity Forum which ended
\nhere on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation (Yayasan Kehati) founder
\nEmil Salim said the country was prone to biopiracy, a process
\nthrough which developed states tried to patent Indonesia's
\nnatural resources as their own.<\/p>\n
Emil, a former state minister of the environment, argued that
\nsuch a network could function as a starting point for local
\ncommunities, administrations and non-governmental organizations
\nto monitor the exploitation and conservation of biodiversity.<\/p>\n
\"Do not underestimate the benefits of such a network. It could
\nhave a snowball effect in applying pressure and increasing
\nknowledge about the need to protect our indigenous biodiversity,\"
\nhe told a media briefing after the close of the forum.<\/p>\n
He noted that global policies and multinational businesses had
\nbecome additional threats to Indonesia's biodiversity.<\/p>\n
\"The developed countries have the brain power, while
\ndeveloping countries provide the resources. They get the patents
\nfor breeding or inventing substances from our resources, but we
\ndon't get any return.\"<\/p>\n
\"That's the battle we're in now,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
The three-day forum, which was attended by the representatives
\nof local communities and administrations, non-governmental
\norganizations and ministries, as well as experts from 25
\nprovinces, drafted a blueprint on the issue of biodiversity.<\/p>\n
Vice chairman of the forum's organizing committee Ismid Hadad
\nrevealed that a working group would be formed in September to
\nestablish a biodiversity information center to gather and
\ndisseminate information as needed.<\/p>\n
\"This forum has decided not to wait any longer for Jakarta
\n(the government) to take action to protect biodiversity. All the
\nstakeholders involved in the question of biodiversity will use
\nthe network to empower themselves,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"In a year from now, the forum will evaluate the progress that
\neach of us has made,\" Ismid added.<\/p>\n
The committee's chairman, Wahjudi Wardojo, who is also
\ndirector general of forest protection and nature conservation at
\nthe Ministry of Forestry, said the forum would also urge the
\ngovernment to revise the law on regional autonomy No.22\/1999 so
\nas to give more authority to village administrations in
\nsustaining biodiversity within their jurisdictions.<\/p>\n
\"In some cases, indigenous communities should be entrusted
\nwith greater power to manage natural resources, either by
\nthemselves or by collaborating with companies setting up business
\nthere,\" he said.(bby)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/environmentalists-set-up-biodiversity-network-1447893297",
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