Govt to develop three more botanical gardens<\/p>\n
Musthofid and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government is developing three more botanical gardens in a
\nbid to prevent the country's biodiversity from extinction,
\naccording to a researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
\n(LIPI).<\/p>\n
Endang Sukara, who is LIPI's deputy chairman in charge of
\nbiotechnology, told The Jakarta Post on Monday that the three
\nbotanical gardens are located in Jambi (Sumatra), Baturaden
\n(Central Java) and Wamena (Papua).<\/p>\n
\"Ideally, all provinces in Indonesia should have botanical
\ngardens to ensure the protection of biodiversity,\" Endang said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia is the second richest country in the world in terms
\nof biodiversity after Brazil. Having around 30,000 species,
\nIndonesia is hailed as the \"mega-diversity\" country.<\/p>\n
But the status is changing as Indonesia is becoming a \"Hot
\nSpot\" and has been labeled as the country with the longest list
\nof species that are in danger of extinction, according to Endang.<\/p>\n
The three botanical gardens will be built on around 600
\nhectares of biodiversity conservation land. The project will be
\ncarried out in cooperation with the Botanical Gardens
\nConservation International (BGCI) and the Hong Kong and Shanghai
\nBanking Corporation Limited (HSBC).<\/p>\n
They will add to the list of Indonesia's botanical gardens to
\nseven. The current four are in Bogor and Cibodas (West Java),
\nPurwodadi (East Java) and Bedugul (Bali).<\/p>\n
Dedy Darnaedi, another LIPI researcher in charge of the
\ndevelopment of the botanical gardens, said they began the project
\nin Jambi in 2000 and planting had already started.<\/p>\n
\"We began even earlier in Wamena, but we have yet to reach an
\nagreement with the local people about the land border issue,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"In Baturaden, we have already finished mapping the area and
\nare about to finalize the master plan,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Dedy said Indonesia's biodiversity was in danger of extinction
\ndue to the rapid pace of deforestation, which was attributed to
\nforest concessionaires, forest fires and illegal logging.<\/p>\n
The World Bank has sent its warning that if the current rapid
\npace of deforestation continues, Indonesia will see the
\ndisappearance of Sumatra's lowland forests in 2005, with
\nKalimantan to follow in 2010.<\/p>\n
\"The lowland forest is home to biodiversity. That's why we are
\nvery much concerned with its conservation,\" Endang said.<\/p>\n
He also revealed a plan to hold an international congress of
\nbotanical gardens in Bali next year, where Indonesia will have an
\nopportunity to gather experts from around 500 botanical gardens
\nin the world.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-to-develop-three-more-botanical-gardens-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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