Oyos Saroso H.N.
Bandarlampung
Government, business and NGO representatives have issued a joint declaration on the importance of protecting Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Lampung, which is suffering encroachment by local coffee farmers.
Several coffee plantations operated by locals have crossed into conservation areas in the national park and are feared to be endangering a wide variety of flora and fauna, including rhinos, tigers and elephants.
Coffee is one of Lampung's main agricultural products. The declaration was issued in the Lampung capital of Bandarlampung on Wednesday evening at the conclusion of a workshop on coffee plantations in the national park.
Under the declaration, representatives urged the park's management to prepare a master plan to protect, utilize and improve the functions of the park. They also urged both central and regional governments, businesses and other related institutions to formulate policy and implement economic and social empowerment programs to dissuade those living near the national park to encroach on the protected areas.
Under the declaration, law enforcers and related institutions are pressed to take strict and consistent measures against violators of the park's protected areas, actions which it states are in line with existing regulations. Businesses were asked to develop environmentally friendly coffee products, as well as monitor the source of their coffee and avoid purchasing products harvested in protected areas. The declaration also urged the government, members of the domestic coffee industry, international buyers and conservation institutions to contribute to the restoration of the national park and help end the illegal coffee-growing activities there.
Director of the World Wide Fund for Nature in Indonesia Hadi Alikodrati said Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, which was listed as a world heritage site, is a vital conservation area. He said the park should be subject to sustainable development with regional, national and international interests kept in mind.
Commenting on the recommendation for a master plan, the park's chairman, Lusman Pasaribu, said his office would soon formulate zonings to differentiate areas that could be utilized by locals from those which are prohibited.
"We will use the zoning areas used by the Dutch colonial administration, which were later adopted by the New Order government. A number of conflicts around the park have been sparked by claims by local people that the land they have developed does not belong to the park," Lusman said.
Source: The Jakarta Post Friday, March 16, 2007
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