RI asks UN for world status for park

RI asks UN for world status for park

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Indonesia is requesting the United
Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
to declare a national park area located near its border with
Malaysia a world heritage site, an official said.

The forestry ministry's regional conservation director Adi
Susmianto said Indonesia needed support from UNESCO to preserve
the Betung Kerihun National Park, where illegal logging is
rampant.

A world heritage site must be freed from logging activities.

The park is located adjacent to Malaysia's Lanjak Entimau
National Park on the island of Borneo. According to Adi, Malaysia
has also demanded that its own park be declared a world heritage
site.

Adi was visiting Kapuas Hulu regency in West Kalimantan in a
bid to attend the promotion event of the Betung Kerihun National
Park.

Indonesia has three national parks, which are world heritage
sites -- Lorentz National Park in Papua province, Ujung Kulon
National Park in Banten province and the Komodo National Park in
East Nusa Tenggara province. -- JP