Ordinance on bird preservation

JAKARTA (JP): The municipality will soon establish an ordinance on the preservation of birds in the city, Governor Sutiyoso said.

"I've ordered related agencies in this matter to prepare a draft on bird preservation," he said over the weekend. Such a regulation was badly needed to stimulate public awareness about the importance of birds and the environment in general, he said.

The governor set free another 500 turtledoves in Central Jakarta's Suropati Park in front of his official residence late last week.

"I believe they will survive here, because there are enough trees and food in this park."

The governor oversaw the release of 2,000 birds from 10 species early last month at National Monument (Monas) Park in tandem with the planting of 350 fruit trees across Central Jakarta.

Among the birds freed in Monas were turtledoves, bulbuls and nightingales.

A second release of 500 birds also was made last month by the governor in Cengkareng apartment complex, West Jakarta, followed by the planting of 1,500 fruit tree seedlings in each of Jakarta's five mayoralties.

Sutiyoso said he was very serious about an ordinance on bird preservation because many people still did not understand the value of birds as part of a healthy environment.

He acknowledged that in every bird release ceremony, most of the birds being freed were eventually caught and caged by nearby residents.

He said a city as big as Jakarta must be developed into a 'green' city to fight increasing pollution problems.

"I hope I can fulfill my ambition to make Jakarta green during my term as governor." (edt)