Volcanoes may become national parks

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