Revise Conservation Law To Save Wildlife: WWF

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - WWF Indonesia Conservation Director Arnold Sitompul has opined to revise Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Natural Resources and the Ecosystem to rescue the country's remaining protected wildlife.

At a discussion titled "Stop and Report the Illegal Trade of Protected Wildlife" to mark World Environment Day on June 5, Sitompul remarked that the revision of the law was being discussed by the government and the House of Representatives.

Every June 5, since 1973, World Environment Day has been celebrated to raise global awareness on the importance of a healthy and green environment in the lives of humans.

Therefore, the WWF has welcomed and supported the National Movement for Wildlife Protection, declared by President Joko Widodo in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) last April.

According to Sitompul, the derivative of Law No. 5 of 1990, which lists endangered wildlife, has to be revised at the earliest, given that several wildlife species currently classified as endangered are not included in the list.

"The law is already outdated. Some orangutans and other critically endangered species have not been included in the list, and therefore, the law has to be revised at the earliest," he noted.

Action is urgently needed to tackle the situation, including strengthening law enforcement, building adequate human and financial capacity, raising public awareness, and fighting collusive corruption, as well as supporting national legislation and curbing the demand for wildlife products, according to UN Environment Program (UNEP).

It also called for longer-term considerations on the management of natural resources and sustainable economic development.

The UNEP also highlighted the importance of raising awareness among the people, something that requires not only legislation but also security interventions.

The people should know that when they purchase a piece of ivory that is illegally traded, they are directly contributing to threatening the survival of that species, emphasized UNEP. (WDY)