Sumatra sustainability fund launched

Antara 23 Jun 10;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The central government, all provincial administrations in Sumatra and WWF (World Wildlife Fund For Nature)-Indonesia have officially launched a Sumatra Sustainability Fund (SSF) to support environmental preservation efforts on the island.

The launching was carried out symbolically by Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan on behalf of the coordinating minister for economic affairs Hatta Radjasa here Tuesday evening in the presence of Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Council Emil Salim and Riau Governor Rusli Zainal in his capacity as coordinator of Sumatran governors, and Marzuki Usman, SSF advisory body`s chairman.

The Fund was a constructive response from the all-Sumatra governors to save Sumatra Island`s ecosystem in line with the recommendations of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Congress in Barcelona in 2008, the forestry minister said.

Governor Rusli Zainal, meanwhile, said that the SSF was a concrete step to save the island`s ecosystem.

SSF Executive Director Sri Mariati said the foundation will collect funds from among
other things state-owned companies` corporate social responsibility (CSR), and climate change international funds.

She said SSF needed a revolving fund amounting to around US$40 million, so that its estimated interest of 7.5 million US dollars could be used for operational activities.(*)