Govt to work with environment experts
Govt to work with environment experts
JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of the Environment yesterday signed a cooperation agreement with the state-owned Sriwijaya University of Palembang as part of a nationwide scheme to develop improved environmental research.
State Minister of the Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said it was an important step as enviromental management is a field in which Indonesia is still lacking in expertise.
Machmud Hasjim, the rector of Sriwijaya University, said that the cooperation will be in the fields of training, education, development and public service in South Sumatra.
The program will last for five years, although it could be extended at the agreement of both parties.
Gunalan, a lecturer at Sriwijaya University and an environmental expert, said that the cooperation program will concentrate on efforts to create parameters that can be used in as large an area as possible.
"For instance, there are many sapu-sapu fish in Jakarta's rivers that have been contaminated by aldrin pesticides. We will assess the conditions of the same species in other regions and how they are able to adapt to other climates," Gunalan said.
Sidik Poernomo, the program development director of the Environmental Impact Management Agency, told The Jakarta Post that the cooperation program will be integrated in the state budget plan for environment programs from next year.
"For the time being we will appeal to the South Sumatra administration to insert the program of cooperation with the Sriwijaya University into their current budget," Sidik said.
Gunalan said that the Sriwijaya University has worked together with Caltex and Unocal oil companies in the region on various environmental programs.
"We offer the oil companies theoretical support in the laboratory and they give us financial backing," he said, adding that the same kind of cooperation will run with the ministry.
Machmud Hasjim told the meeting that Sriwijaya University has developed a basic environmental awareness training program for local administration officers up to district level, oil company managers, school teachers and religious teachers.
The university has also cooperated with various companies such as PT Semen Baturaja, local hospitals, slaughterhouses, markets, rubber and oil palm agricultural enterprises, and the city garbage disposal agency. (16)