Raja Ampat Conservation Official Calls Against Forest Burning

Manokwari, W Papua (Antara Bali) - The head of the Waisai natural resources conservation office in Raja Ampat district in West Papua, Enjang Sopiyudin, has urged people in the region to not burn forests in the conservation area.

"The people of Raja Ampat must not burn lands in the conservation forest area as it would affect protected animals," he said here on Wednesday.

He said protected animals like "Cenderawasih" bird of paradise is very sensitive and may not stand haze coming from forest fires.

"Endemic birds may die due to haze and may also migrate," he explained.

He said five fires had been detected in the West Waigeo forest conservation area in the past month but they had all been extinguished.

He said the fires were caused by negligence of the people who sought to clear land in the protected area for farming.

He said he hoped the district administration of Raja Ampat would take an active role to prevent burning of forests by people especially in the conservation area of West Waigeo which is the habitat of the bird of paradise.

"We also asked people living around the West Waigeo conservation area in Raja Ampat district to not burn land in the current dry season," he said. (WDY)