Togean named 'protected' islands

Togean named 'protected' islands

PALU, Central Sulawesi: The government must declare the Togean
islands near here a protected area before the pristine local
ecosystem deteriorates further, an official urged on Friday.

"I am afraid both the land and marine ecosystems of the
islands will be damaged if no form of protection is given to
their flora and fauna," the head of the Natural Conservation
Center here, Banjar Yulianto, was quoted by Antara as saying.

He said the Center had been campaigning to protect the Togean
island's environment since August 1989, proposing that only
100,000 hectares of the island be opened to marine tourism.

He said the proposal was being debated by both local
government bodies and non-governmental organizations.

He added the Center itself did not have any problem with the
island's status. "It is up to them. The decision however should
be clear so as to prevent the local people from being harmed and
to preserve the island's ecosystems," he added.