Forestry minister gets conservation medal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo
\nhas received a Golden Ark medal for his efforts to promote
\nenvironmental conservation, particularly in relation to tropical
\nforests.<\/p>\n
The medal was presented on Sunday by Dutch Prince Bernhard at
\nSoesdijk Palace in the Netherlands. The medal was presented on
\nbehalf of the Golden Ark Foundation, according to a statement
\nissued yesterday by the Ministry of Forestry.<\/p>\n
The Golden Ark is an internationally-recognized award
\npresented for outstanding efforts in protecting the environment.<\/p>\n
The medal, which is equal to a Dutch knighthood, has so far
\nbeen awarded to 260 people, including nine Indonesians.<\/p>\n
Among the Indonesians awarded the medal are President
\nSoeharto, former environment minister Emil Salim, Sultan Hamengku
\nBuwono IX of Yogyakarta and former forestry minister Soedjarwo.<\/p>\n
At Sunday's ceremony, Djamaludin received the \"Coomandeur\"
\nGolden Ark award, the highest honor, together with Prof. Ake-Assi
\nof Ivory Coast.<\/p>\n
In the presence of Dutch Queen Beatrix, Djamaludin presented a
\nbook on Indonesia's natural environment and a wooden carving of a
\nKomodo lizard to Prince Bernhard as souvenirs.<\/p>\n
According to the statement, Prince Bernhard praised Djamaludin
\nfor his support for the Leuser National Park project, which
\ncovers 1.8 million hectares of forest land in Aceh, northern
\nSumatra.<\/p>\n
The project, costing up to Rp 90 billion (US$39.4 million),
\nwill be managed by the Leuser Foundation. The funds will come
\nfrom the European Union.<\/p>\n
The Golden Ark Foundation consists of people who have been
\nawarded the Golden Ark medal for dedication to the conservation
\nof endangered plants and animals.<\/p>\n
During his tour of the Netherlands, Djamaludin also met with
\nacademics of the Netherland's Wageningen Agricultural University
\nto discuss, among others subjects, the possibility of conducting
\nexchange programs, \"sandwich\" courses and cooperation in training
\nand research projects.<\/p>\n
Such cooperation is expected to allow Dutch professors to
\nteach in Indonesia and to help upgrade the curricula of several
\nforestry schools of Indonesian universities, including Bogor
\nAgricultural University in West Java, Gadjah Mada University in
\nYogyakarta, Mulawarman University in Samarinda, East Kalimantan,
\nHasanuddin University in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and
\nLambungmangkurat University in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Indonesia will send lecturers to the Netherlands to
\nconduct research and study which will enable them to broaden
\ntheir understanding of forestry.<\/p>\n
According to yesterday's statement, the rector of Wageningen
\nUniversity will visit Indonesia at the end of January next year
\nto sign the accord.<\/p>\n
Djamaludin also met with the director of the World Wildlife
\nFund for Nature in the Netherlands, Ed Nijpels, to discuss eco-
\nlabeling.<\/p>\n
The two reportedly agreed that once an eco-labeling
\nrequirement comes into force in the year 2010, only wood
\nharvested from environmentally-sound tropical forests will be
\neligible for the eco-label. (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/forestry-minister-gets-conservation-medal-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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