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)