Illegal trade in endangered species on the rise in RI

Illegal trade in endangered species on the rise in RI

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Illegal trading of endangered and protected species has reached
an alarming level in Indonesia, with the provinces of Bali and
East and West Nusa Tenggara serving as centers for the illicit
practice, State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim said.

Indonesia, he said, had ratified the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in l978, yet
the criminal practice continues to flourish because of a lack of
law enforcement and rare species are commercially viable.

"There are 236 endangered and protected species of animals and
58 of plants in Indonesia but their numbers are diminishing
because of their illegal trade," he said in Denpasar on Monday.

He said the international community had urged the country to
take effective measures to stop the illegal trade.

"Bali will host a preparatory meeting for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development in May and June. That is why we have to
show our strong commitment in dealing with any environmental
problems, including illegal trading and smuggling of protected
and endangered species," warned Nabiel, adding that the
international community was "watching" the nation.

Nabiel said that the three provinces must join forces to
eliminate the irresponsible trade of thousands of protected
animals and plants found only in these areas.

"Recently, the international community planned to boycott Bali
as one of the world's tourist destinations because of the killing
and illegal trade of green turtles," he said.

Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara are rich in biodiversity and
have been hot spots for various illegal practices and the
smuggling of rare species, Nabiel added.

Among the provinces' native species are the Bali starling, the
green turtle (chelonia mydas), the Komodo dragon (Varanus
komodoensis) and various species of birds and insects.

Meanwhile, a large number of plants, such as orchids and
sandalwood, have been smuggled into domestic and overseas
markets. "Demands for such species have been very high in these
three provinces as they are commercially beneficial," the
minister pointed out.

In a preliminary meeting on Monday, Bali Governor I Dewa Made
Beratha, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Harun Al Rasyid and East
Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet W. Tallo signed a joint agreement
that addresses the utilization, distribution and trading of
endangered and protected animals and plants.

"This issue is very complicated and difficult to deal with. We
need strong cooperation in curbing the illegal trade of protected
animals to a minimum," said Dewa Beratha.

He admitted that the Balinese Hindu use turtle meat in a
number of religious ceremonies. "But the amount is limited to
sustain the turtle population," the governor said.

The joint cooperation will comprise the establishment of
special teams, joint monitoring of inter-island transportation of
endangered species and an exchange of information.

The two-day meeting also involves regents of the three
provinces, legislative officials and representatives of local and
international non-governmental organizations, including the World
Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Wallaceae Bioregion Program, Animal
Conservation for Life (KSBK) and other agencies.

"The involvement of regents at this meeting is crucial because
they are the persons who directly deal with this problem at a
regional level," added Harun Al Rasyid.

In the regional autonomy era, regents and regional legislative
bodies play important roles in implementing any policy on the
environment. "Sometimes, there are misunderstandings between
provincial and regional administrations in interpreting
environmental issues," he said.

Roset Nurhadi, the director of Indonesia's chapter of Animal
Conservation For Life, said that the illegal trade of endangered
species in the three provinces, and in Indonesia in general,
often involved members of the Indonesian Armed Forces, strong
officials in the government and irresponsible traders.

"We have often failed to arrest people who sell and possess
protected animals because they have strong backing and are
usually members of high-ranking armed forces," Roset said.