Ayamaru lake dries up

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The fast depletion of the water level of Ayamaru lake in the Sorong regency is threatening the existence of fish species, some of them are rare.

B. Lingga of the local environmental office blamed the decline on the continued practice of slash and burn farming by a number of tribes living in the area, the Antara news agency reported.

The practice is destroying the forests in the area which in turn affect the water level of the lake.

The issue was apparently discussed at a recent meeting of the Irian Jaya legislative assembly. (emb)