Riau, Kalimantan get National parks

Riau, Kalimantan get National parks

JAKARTA: The Ministry of Forestry has converted a huge forestry area in Riau and a large area of natural forest in West Kalimantan into a national park.

Minister Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo declared in two separate decrees that an 800,000 hectare area, known as the Bentuang Karimun natural forest in West Kalimantan, and a 127,698 hectare area covering forests in the Indragiri Hulu and Indragiri Hilir regencies in Riau, will now have national park status.

The first has been named Bentuang Karimun National Park and the second Bukit Tiga Puluh National Park.

The decisions were taken for the park's many animal and plant species that need protection, including rhinos, elephants, orangutans and rare rattans. (emb)