Environment minister complains bird hunting ban ignored
Environment minister complains bird hunting ban ignored
JAKARTA (JP): The government ban against all bird hunting,
issued last April, has been largely ignored, said State Minister
of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.
Sarwono disclosed the existence of the ban, which had not been
previously announced, on Thursday, the eve of the national flora
and fauna day which falls today.
Sarwono said the ban was stipulated in decree No.29/1994,
issued by the Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. on Apr.
27, 1994.
The ban followed reports that hunting birds in Central Java
has lead to a significant decrease in their population which, in
turn, has lead to an increase in the number of pests.
Ironically, bird hunting in the area is conducted by rice
farmers to protect their crops against the birds.
Sarwono said the request to ban bird hunting came from his
office because it goes against Law No.5/1990 on Biological
Resources and the Ecosystems and Presidential Decree No.4/1993 on
National Flora and Fauna and the Identity of Local Flora and
Fauna.
"Anyone violating the rule can be sentenced up to 10 years in
jail and fined Rp 100 million," Sarwono said.
However, he realized that it would be impossible to enforce
the ban immediately. "We have to educate the public to care about
the environment," Sarwono said.
Indonesia has 47 types of ecosystems with 10 percent of the
world's species of flora, 12 percent of the world's species of
mammal, 16 percent of the world's species of reptiles, 17 percent
of the world's species of birds and 25 percent of the world's
species of fish being found here.
Indonesia's bio-diversity resources have only been partially
used, with its full potential yet to be explored.
"On the other hand, the wealth of Indonesia's bio-diversity
resources is declining because of human activities and
development," Sarwono said.
Integrated conservation efforts toward sustainable use of
flora and fauna is the theme of this year's Love Flora and Fauna
National Day.
Stamps
Every year on Flora and Fauna Day, the Ministry of Post and
Telecommunication issues stamps in conjunction with day's theme.
These themes have been planned through to the year 2000.
In commemoration of the day, President Soeharto will sign the
first cover of Flora and Fauna Stamps today.
Elephants
In observance of the day, Sarwono said his office is paying
special attention to the problem of elephants, which have ravaged
plantations and villages in many parts of Sumatra, and the
illegal catching, by poison, and trading of Napoleon fish
(cheilinus undulatus).
He called for better planning of human and elephant settlement
as an effort to cope with the problem of elephants.
On the Napoleon fish, Sarwono suggested the United Nations
Conference on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
put the fish on its list. Although the fish is not an endangered
species, it is necessary to ban its trading because the way they
are caught damages the environment.
He said the Minister of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture
have agreed to his proposal.
Indonesia will take part in the CITES meeting, scheduled to
take place next week in Florida.
Admitting there are still wide practices of illegal trade in
endangered species, Sarwono blamed the public's poor
environmental awareness and lack of coordination among the
relevant government offices.
Beginning this year, Indonesia's representatives at the CITES
meetings will not only include the Indonesian Science Institute
and the Ministry of Forestry, but also the offices of the State
Minister of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, which
have not been involved in past meetings.(sim)