ID :
88146
Fri, 11/06/2009 - 03:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/88146
The shortlink copeid
RI LOSING RP2.5 BILLION ANNUALLY BY ILLEGAL PRIMATE TRADE
Jakarta, Nov 4 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is suffering an annual loss of Rp2.5 billion from illegal trade in wild primates, Environment Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said.
"The state's losses total about Rp2.5 billion per annum, not to mention the ecological losses," he said in his address to mark National Flora and Fauna Day 2009 at the vice presidential office here on Thursday.
The losses were caused by the smuggling of 25,000 primates out of the country in the past year, he said quoting an Indonesian Wildlife Conservation Society report.
"Every year, an estimated 5,000 orangutans (pongo sp) disappear because of illegal hunting and illegal logging," he said.
Trade in parrots was also rife in the eastern parts of Indonesia, in North Halmahera in particular, with an estimated 10,000 heads smuggled out of the country every year, he said.
Indonesia which is known for its mega biodiversity had about 90 types of unique ecosystems, including tropical snow plains in Puncak Jaya, Papua, he said.
"Indonesia is also home to the following percentages of the world's flora and fauna : 10 percent of the flower plants, 12 percent of the mammals, 16 percent of the reptiles and amphibians and 17 percent of the bird species," he said.
Indonesia also had the greatest number of mammals in the world, he said adding that 515 kinds of mammal were found in Indonesia and 35 percent of them were endemic to the country.
"After all, the flora and fauna are under threat of extinction in their original habitats, including the giant lotus (Rafflesia arnoldii) and Balinese starlings (Leucopsar rothschildi)," he said.***
"The state's losses total about Rp2.5 billion per annum, not to mention the ecological losses," he said in his address to mark National Flora and Fauna Day 2009 at the vice presidential office here on Thursday.
The losses were caused by the smuggling of 25,000 primates out of the country in the past year, he said quoting an Indonesian Wildlife Conservation Society report.
"Every year, an estimated 5,000 orangutans (pongo sp) disappear because of illegal hunting and illegal logging," he said.
Trade in parrots was also rife in the eastern parts of Indonesia, in North Halmahera in particular, with an estimated 10,000 heads smuggled out of the country every year, he said.
Indonesia which is known for its mega biodiversity had about 90 types of unique ecosystems, including tropical snow plains in Puncak Jaya, Papua, he said.
"Indonesia is also home to the following percentages of the world's flora and fauna : 10 percent of the flower plants, 12 percent of the mammals, 16 percent of the reptiles and amphibians and 17 percent of the bird species," he said.
Indonesia also had the greatest number of mammals in the world, he said adding that 515 kinds of mammal were found in Indonesia and 35 percent of them were endemic to the country.
"After all, the flora and fauna are under threat of extinction in their original habitats, including the giant lotus (Rafflesia arnoldii) and Balinese starlings (Leucopsar rothschildi)," he said.***
