BECOMING ONE WITH MOTHER NATURE by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 3, 2017 (Antara) - The Indonesian Government observed National Environment Day in a function themed "Connecting People to Nature," held at the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry office in Manggala Wanabakti complex in Jakarta on Aug 2 this year.

         The commemoration was aimed at increasing the people's awareness towards environmental problems such as deforestation, waste management, as well as air and water pollution.   
    Indonesia's forests, which are the third largest in the world after those in Brazil and Congo, hold some of the world's most diverse ecosystems, from endangered orangutans and rhinos to Rafflesias, the biggest flowers on earth.

         But, the country has lost a lot of its tropical rain forest due to illegal logging and rapid conversion of forests to plantations, despite the fact that since May 2011, the government has imposed moratorium on granting new licenses to clear forests in primary natural forest and peatland areas.

         Some companies appeared to have exploited protected national parks, for instance, to make way for plantations or have destroyed industrial parks, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) remarked while leading the function to observe National Environment Day 2017.

         The Head of State revealed that he will tighten requirements on the issuance of permits for the forest industry to protect natural resources and preserve the environment.

          "We should stop issuing any careless and irresponsible work permits to companies planning to operate in forest areas," Jokowi noted.

           The main objective of granting permits for industries in forest areas is to improve the welfare of the people.

            "The problem now is that most communities living near industrial forests are poor. Hence, we should rethink whether the teakwood plantations had contributed to the people's well-being" the president rhetorically told the audience.

          During the celebration, the president planted a teakwood tree (Tectona grandis) sapling and inaugurated the issuance of a special stamp, urging each person to plant at least 25 saplings during his or her lifetime.

         Jokowi also attended Kalpataru environmental award presentation ceremony. The awards are bestowed to environmental champions who have dedicated their lives to Mother Nature.

         "The lives of Indonesian people have relied on and become one with nature. We should not forget this, as Indonesia's natural wealth is our significant identity," the head of state remarked. 
    It has been Indonesia's tradition that in celebrating annual National Environment Day, the government bestows Kalpataru (Tree of Life) awards to environmental heroes and Adipura awards to municipalities and districts for cleanliness.    
    During the ceremony, Environmental Affairs and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar and Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution presented awards to individuals, groups, regional heads, and schools that have contributed significantly to environmental preservation.

         Kalpataru environmental awards for individuals and groups were bestowed on 10 recipients, while the Adipura Kencana awards for cities and districts were given to 6; Adipura awards for cities were given to 16; Adiwiyata Mandiri awards for schools were given to 24; and Nirwasita Tantra awards for regional heads to 9, comprising 3 governors, 3 district heads, and 3 mayors.

          During the 2006-2016 period, a total of 7,278 schools had received the Adiwiyata awards. This year, similar awards were bestowed on 24 schools.

           The 2017 Nirwasita Tantra awards were bestowed on the governors of East Java, West Sumatra, and Jakarta; district heads of Malang, Sukoharjo, and Dharmasraya; and mayors of Surabaya, Balikpapan, and Bukit Tinggi.

           Kalpataru was first awarded in 1980, and there are already 357 recipients across Indonesia.

           This year's 10 recipients of Kalpataru are from North Sumatra, East Kalimantan, Jakarta, West Java, Bali, East Java, West Kalimantan, Papua, Yogyakarta, and North Kalimantan.

           The Kalpataru awards, as usual, are presented to individuals and groups in four categories, namely environmental pioneer, environmental devotee, environmental savior, and environmental patron categories.

            Environmental champions receiving Kalpataru awards in pioneer category are Anuar from North Sumatra and Agus Bei from East Kalimantan Timur. In devotee category, the recipients are Mahariah from Jakarta and Heri Supriyatna from West Java.

            In savior category, the winners are a turtle preservation group called Kurnia Asih from Peracak village in Bali, fishermen¿s group named Samudera Bakti from East Java Province, a community group for Lake Lindung Protection from West Kalimantan, and Isyo Hills` Repang Muaif nature lover group from Papua.

            In environmental patron category, the awards have been given to Saptono Tanjung from Yogyakarta and Lefrand Adam Singal from North Kalimantan.

             Anuar, during a dialog with Jokowi, stated that he had planted millions of mangrove trees along North Sumatra coast and cultivated mangrove for sale.

             "In 2013, I sold a total of 5,480 million mangrove seedlings to Aceh. I also sold trees to Mandailing Natal, Nias, West Sumatra, and Bangka Belitung," Anuar remarked.

             Another environmental champion, Alex, from Isyo Hill's Repang Muaif nature lover group, told Jokowi that his group has preserved and protected a habitat of Bird of Paradise, locally called Cenderawasih, in a forest area measuring 19 hectares.

            "We preserve Cenderawasih species, so that we can enjoy watching them in their habitat in the forest. Many people do not know the species of Cenderawasih. We protect them to prevent extinction," he reiterated. ***3***
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(T.F001/A/BESSR/A/Yosep) 03-08-2017