Jakarta \u2013 Indonesia and Malaysia have strengthened cooperation in\nprotecting wildlife that moves across national borders, as evidenced by\na meeting between Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni and Malaysian\nAmbassador to Indonesia Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin.<\/p>\n
\u201cWildlife does not recognise state boundaries; their movement is\necological and borderless. Therefore, the conservation approach must\nalso transcend the administrative boundaries of both countries with the\naim of protecting them,\u201d said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni in a\nstatement received in Jakarta on Friday.<\/p>\n
During the meeting held in Jakarta on Wednesday (25 February), the\nForestry Minister emphasised the importance of strengthening strategic\ncooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia in protecting wildlife that\nmigrates across national borders.<\/p>\n
He also reported findings from technical teams in North Kalimantan\nProvince concerning the movement of Bornean orangutan populations (Pongo\npygmaeus) crossing administrative boundaries into Malaysian territories,\nnamely Sabah and Sarawak.<\/p>\n
The orangutan species found across the Kalimantan landscape has been\nclassified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for\nConservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Besides orangutans, other\nspecies are also present, such as elephants and proboscis monkeys.<\/p>\n
The Forestry Minister emphasised that the Kalimantan forest landscape\nrepresents a unified and interconnected ecosystem despite the national\nborder within it. Habitat fragmentation, land-cover change, and pressure\nfrom illegal activities could potentially increase risks to\nalready-threatened wildlife populations.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, the Malaysian Ambassador expressed appreciation\nand welcomed Indonesia\u2019s initiative, stating the Malaysian Government\u2019s\nreadiness to strengthen technical collaboration between the forest and\nconservation authorities of both nations.<\/p>\n
This cooperation is expected to serve as a model for transnational\nconservation management in the regional area.<\/p>\n
The meeting concluded with a commitment to follow up on the\ndiscussions through formal cooperation mechanisms and the development of\na joint technical framework in the near future.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-and-malaysia-strengthen-commitment-to-cross-border-wildlife-protection-1772175662", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }