Volcanoes may become national parks

JAKARTA: The government is considering making Mt. Merapi and neighboring Mt. Merbabu in Central Java national parks, in order to help ensure their conservation.

Liana Bratasida, deputy for environmental protection at the Office of the State Minister for the Environment, said on Friday the new status for the two volcanoes was expected to be announced by President Megawati Soekarnoputri next month.

"It (the new status) will be declared during a ceremony to mark the International Year of Mountains in October," she told The Jakarta Post.

Forested areas near the volcanoes caught fire last month as a result of the prolonged dry season.

According to the Ministry of Forestry, as of December 2001 the country had 41 national parks, spanning from the Leuser Mountain national park in Aceh to the Lorentz national park in Papua.

The government bans all activities in national parks that could damage the environment, such as open pit mining.--JP