FORESTRY MINISTRY INVOLVES PRIVATE PARTIES IN ENVIROMENTAL CONSEVATION

              Environmental conservation, such as tiger conservation, requires a very large amount of fund while the Forestry Ministry budget is very limited. Therefore, public partnership conservation is part of conservation attempt. Darori, Director General of Forest Protection and Nature Conservation of the Forestry Ministry, said.

          So far, partnership program has been frequently performed in rehabilitation and planting, while in conservation it is low, including in tiger conservation. Conservation of the and protected animals require a large amount of fund. Therefore, the government invites private sector to set aside their CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) fund for conservation activity, Darori said.

            At present, total CSR fund of companies in Indonesia is estimated to reach Rp 20 trillions, while Rp 1 trillion for conservation attempt has already been very helpful. The involvement of private sector in Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, which is tiger conservation by Artha Graha Group who is also the management of Tambling recreational part and construction of tiger observation pen by Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) Group in Siak, Riau.

            Preserved forest area managed by Tambling Wildlife Nature Conservation has successfully maintained Indonesia’s biodiversity assets, such as Sumatera tigers and elephants.

            In addition to that, tiger conservation attempt is also performed collaboratively with non-governmental institutions such as Forum Harimau Kita, Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF Indonesia, Taman Safari Indonesia, Fauna & Flora International, Zoological Society of London, and conservation activists or other conservation donor organizations.

              Public partnership conservation is one of the attempts to preserve protected species during low budget. For tiger conservation attempt, there is budget available through PPA at USD 10.8 millions, and Indonesia receives Rp 300 billions for protecting and increasing their population two times by 2024.

               Indonesia is still seeking a way for tiger conservation which is beneficial to humans. For this purpose, a tiger park will be constructed and it will require a large sixe of area. We are seeking for 300 hectare area for conservation of Sumatera tiger and for protecting them from hunters. This area could become an eco-tourism site that could absorb local workers, said Darori.

           Meanwhile, to support national conservation activity, the Forestry Ministry receives assistance from Australia Zoo who will construct the first Wildlife Hospital in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung. The mechanism is like this: we lend them 5 Way Kambas elephants and they build the hospital, the first foundation stone will be laid on January 31, he said.

              Several partnerships in management of conservation area and national park with private sector that have been going on are construction of rhinoceros pen in Ujung Kulon, tiger release facility in Bukti Barisan Selatan National Park, and Jalak Bali bird conservation in Bali Barat National Park.

            We will also offer the management of Komodo National Park to private sector, he said. The government opens partnership with foreign private parties who will contribute in the management of conservation area and national park. Indonesia has around 50 national parks.

            With many partnerships in conservation management with private, parties, the country will be benefited as it will enjoy foreign exchange revenue from national park tourism activity. But, Darori could not yet calculate the amount of the potential foreign revenue. We have just started and are on investment stage. Probably in the next 5 years we will receive large amount of foreign exchange revenue.