Indonesia: East Asian and Australasia countries discuss bird migration

Antara 19 Mar 12;

Palembang (ANTARA News) - Thirteen countries are meeting to discuss the migration of endangered bird species in the East Asia and Australasia regions.

RI Minister of Forestry, Zulkifli Hasan, said the Government of Indonesia will provide a good habitat for the development of the endangered wild birds that have migrated to Indonesia.

"There are nine tracks of bird migration in the East Asia and Australasia region that have migrated to Indonesia," said Hasan at the East Asia-Australasia Flyway Partnership in Palembang, on Monday.

He also noted that Indonesia will protect the migrated birds.

"The habitat of the migrated birds is mainly in the swamps, so we have asked that the swamplands in South Sumatra not be converted and that bird hunting is banned," said Hasan.

The minister also launched the Sembilang National Park in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, which specializes as a wild bird conservation area.

The Sembilang National Park has also become a special eco-tourism destination in South Sumatra.

According to the Head of the Tourism Department of South Sumatra, Toni Panggarbesi, the opening of Sembilang National Park will not damage the ecosystem of birds as it`s a special event eco-tourism destination and will only be open to small groups of qualified visitors.

"The Department of Culture and Tourism will restrict the entry of tourists to the Sembilang National Park and facilitate the promotion of this special event eco-tourism destination," he remarked.
(Uu.A060/KR-BSR/INE/A014)