Fidelis E. Satriastanti Jakarta Globe 29 Sep 10;
Jakarta. The government lacks the political will to protect two tree families highlighted earlier this week by scientists for their vulnerability to exploitation, experts said on Tuesday.
On Monday, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said the conservation of the Dipterocarpaceae and Thymelaeaceae families of trees needed to be made a priority.
The Dipterocarpaceae family of large trees found in Kalimantan includes highly valuable species such as the meranti, kruing and kapur. The Thymelaeaceae family includes species such as aloe and agar, which are prized for their distinctive scent.
Of the 42 Dipterocarpaceae species, Dipterocarpaceae litoralis is considered the most at risk of extinction because it is found only in Nusa Kembangan, Central Java.
“I went to Nusa Kembangan in 2006 and found almost no Dipterocarpaceae litoralis trees there,” said Tukirin Partomihardjo, a LIPI researcher.
“In 2000, I managed to find six big trees spread out over a 20-hectare area.”
He said LIPI would submit its recommendation for the priority conservation to forestry officials for follow-up efforts.
“With sufficient research, we hope to be able to find ways to multiply the species and protect them,” Tukirin said.
“We hope that with sufficient legal protection, we can get a logging moratorium for Dipterocarpaceae litoralis in Nusa Kembangan, which could eventually lead to the protection of other species.
However, the LIPI researcher said that he was not hopeful, noting that scientific recommendations usually lost out to political interests.
Inclusion of the Dipterocarpaceae and Tyhmelaeaceae families of trees into the government list of protected species depends on approval from the House of Representatives.
Harry Santosa, the director of conservation and biodiversity at the Ministry of Forestry, said that his office was considering all recommendations for conservation from the scientific establishment.
“We already have a list of plant and animal species protected under a 1999 government regulation, which is currently being reviewed, so we welcome any suggestions,” Harry said.
Last year, LIPI recommended that 100 species from four plant families be included in the list of protected species.
However, that recommendation has still not been approved by the government.
Indonesia ranks fourth, alongside Brazil, for the highest number of endangered plants with 386 species from 44 families.
The biggest family facing extinction is the Dipterocarpaceae family, which accounts for 37 percent of the 386 affected species.
