Indonesia-Japan Strengthen Green Diplomacy through Komodo Conservation Cooperation

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is strengthening green diplomacy through the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Komodo conservation with Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. “This is part of green diplomacy. We hope to share responsibilities and cooperation in addressing climate issues, better protecting our forests, conservation, and improving biodiversity richness,” said Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni in his statement in Jakarta on Saturday. The MoU signing was conducted by Forestry Minister Raja Antoni with Shizuoka Governor Suzuki Yasutomo in Shizuoka, Japan, as part of President Prabowo Subianto’s diplomatic visit to Japan and Korea. Furthermore, he stated that the cooperation includes a Komodo breeding loan, which will be placed at iZoo in Kawazu, Shizuoka, Japan’s largest reptile and amphibian zoo. “Indonesia is one of the world’s largest tropical countries, with vast forests and extraordinary irreplaceable biodiversity. The Komodo is one of Indonesia’s flagship animals, among many others like elephants, tigers, and so on,” he said. Raja Antoni hopes that the presence of Komodos will promote biodiversity and attract Japanese interest to see Komodos directly on Komodo Island, Indonesia. “This is the first but not the last cooperation. We hope that with Komodos at iZoo, it will promote Indonesia’s wealth and biodiversity,” he stated. Besides wildlife preservation, he also hopes Indonesia can learn from the Japanese government on maintaining a balance between industrialisation development and good environmental protection, as well as discussing the possibility of creating a “sister park”. “I hope in the future we can discuss the possibility of making Mount Fuji and other mountains in Indonesia as sister parks,” he said. Meanwhile, Shizuoka Governor Suzuki Yasutomo expressed happiness and pride in cooperating with the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry. He also assured that Japan will contribute to Komodo conservation through breeding. “Since the Komodo is an endangered wild animal, we are very pleased to contribute to breeding Komodos. We hope this cooperation runs smoothly,” said Suzuki.