Coral reefs need more attention: Sarwono

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja told the House of Representatives yesterday that special attention needs to be paid to the country's coral reefs, which are being destroyed at an alarming rate.

"Thus far, our participation in the cause is limited only to monitoring and coordinating the projects of other institutions since we have none of our own," Sarwono said.

The minister cited a few examples of Indonesia's participation in various projects, including the marine resource evaluation program, the coral reef evaluation program conducted in cooperation with the Indonesia Institute of Sciences and the coastal resource management project of the Directorate General of Fishery.

A recent study conducted by the institute's oceanology department found that 14 percent of the country's coral reef ecosystem is in critical condition, 46 percent has already been destroyed and only 7 percent remains in a state of equilibrium.

Sarwono expressed his conviction that government participation would improve, but suggested that a national marine council be set up to help deal with the problem.

Sarwono, also chief of the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal), reported to House Commission X for sciences and technology on last year's program and explained upcoming programs.

Sarwono lamented the low levels of environmental technology and technical know-how in Indonesia.

"Most environmental consultants and auditors are foreigners," he said, referring to the ISO 14000, a foreign managerial tool that also evaluates environmental management.

Goals to be attained in the next fiscal year, according to Sarwono, include "socializing" the revised version of the environmental bill that is scheduled to be submitted to the House at the end of October. He also cited the need to improve human resources and technical skills.

"We also need to boost public participation and concern for the environment," Sarwono said.

P.L. Courtier, a deputy chief at Bapedal, explained to commission members the concept of one government measurement tool called Amdal.

"Amdal is a feasibility study conducted to assess the potential impact of a particular activity on the environment, not a permit to issue a business license," Courtier said.

Courtier said that Bapedal needs Rp 100 million (US$42,500) to fund more Amdal studies.

A committee of representatives from the tax and finance directorates are currently drafting an environmental tax proposal recently put forward by Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave. (14)