Lessons on environmental awareness needed<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono
\nKusumaatmadja urged teachers on Saturday to help improve the
\nenvironmental awareness of the public by teaching their students
\nto treat animals and plants with respect.<\/p>\n
Sarwono said teachers should tell the students about the need
\nfor "civilized treatment of flora and fauna".<\/p>\n
He told journalists after attending a ceremony in conjunction
\nwith National Flora and Fauna Day at Taman Mini park that
\neducation was vital to improving environmental awareness among
\nthe populace.<\/p>\n
The efforts to save the environment would not work without the
\nactive participation of the people, the minister emphasized.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, he said that people should report to the
\npolice any violation of the ban on bird hunting.<\/p>\n
Sarwono referred to the Minister of Home Affairs's regulation
\nbanning the hunting of any kind of birds throughout the country,
\nwhich was issued in April.<\/p>\n
He said that the government also banned any contests involving
\ncaptive birds.<\/p>\n
In observance of National Flora and Fauna Day, several members
\nof the Association of Indonesian Zoos are organizing various
\nactivities involving the public.<\/p>\n
"There is an elephant riding contest at the zoo in Bukittinggi
\n(West Sumatra) today," D. Ashari, president of the association,
\nwho also attended Saturday's ceremony, said.<\/p>\n
The Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta, in cooperation with the
\nWorld Wide Fund for Nature, will hold story telling and music
\ncontests, as well as quizzes, on Nov.20.<\/p>\n
Bio-diversity<\/p>\n
On Saturday, Sarwono again raised concerns over development
\nactivities which run counter to conserving the rich bio-diversity
\nresources of the country.<\/p>\n
"There are still development and human activities which are
\nnot in line with the conservation efforts towards sustainable use
\nof bio-diversity resources," Sarwono said.<\/p>\n
Activities which are harmful to the environment continue to
\noccur due to the inadequate legal instruments, the minister said.<\/p>\n
Research on bio-diversity done by various institutes and
\nuniversities does not focus on conservation, Sarwono complained.
\nHe added that Indonesia also lacks professionals and is well
\nbehind other countries in the science and technology of bio-
\ndiversity.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto, along with 156 other heads of state,
\nsigned the United Conventions on Biological Diversity, at the
\nEarth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, in 1992. Sarwono said Indonesia
\nratified the convention through Law No.5\/1994.<\/p>\n
The ratification of the convention is expected to improve the
\ncooperation among the government and the private sector, as well
\nas the public, in conservation efforts for the betterment of
\nsocial welfare.(sim)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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