Five flora, 5 fauna new mayoralty symbols

JAKARTA (JP): The municipality has chosen an indigenous plant and animal to symbolize each of the city's five mayoralties, in a bid to improve public awareness about the importance of preserving nature.

Adopting the five plants and five animals as mayoralty symbols was stipulated in Gubernatorial Decrees issued in September.

The flora and fauna that will represent each mayoralty should become a symbol of each part of the capital.

"It is important for Jakarta to start a nature conservation program through the city's mayoralties. However, it does not mean that only the five flora and fauna have to be protected.

"The others must be too," outgoing Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said over the weekend.

The five new mayoralties' plant and animal symbols are the Bambu Apus tree (Gigantochloa Apus) and Sri Gunting bird (Dicrurus Paradiseus) for the East Jakarta Mayoralty; the Nyamplung tree (Calophyllum Inophyllum) and Raja Udang bird (Halycon Cyanoventris) for North Jakarta; Dendrobium Jakarta Molek (Dendrobium SP) and Kuntul Kecil bird (Egretta Garzetta) for West Jakarta.

The Rambutan Rapiah (Nephellium Lappaceum) and Gelatik bird (Padda Oryzivora) for the South Jakarta Mayoralty; and Menteng tree (Bacaurea Racemosa) and Alap-Alap or Elang Tikus bird (Elanus Caeruleus) for Central Jakarta.

"The decision to choose the flora and fauna symbols was made on the basis of a series of studies conducted jointly by non- governmental organizations, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, the city's forestry agency and other related agencies. So it's an objective choice," Surjadi said.

Each of the flora and fauna was chosen because of its historical meaning for the city and the fact that it is in serious danger of becoming extinct, he added.

"For instance, the Menteng fruit tree is a species that was found in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, during the colonial era," Surjadi said.

"To popularize them, the flora and fauna will be used in logos put up in certain strategic locations," said Soenaryo, head of city's forestry agency.

Main roads, the borders between mayoralties, mayoralty offices, hotels and recreation centers will display the logos, he said.

"With this kind of promotion, the public is expected to become increasingly aware of, and care more about the endangered species of flora and fauna," he added. (07)