On the upside, RI environment is no worse

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 05/31/2008 12:07 PM | National

Indonesia's environment might be in a bad way, but the good news is -- it isn't getting any worse.

Environment minister Rachmat Witoelar said that although many people's actions did not support conservation efforts, the government had noticed a rise in public awareness of environmental issues.

"Our environment today remains in a poor state, but I would say it's no worse than it was in the past. People are aware of and make positive responses to environmental deterioration," Rachmat told a media conference on Friday to mark Environment Day, which falls on June 5.

He pointed out nonenvironmentally friendly behavior was responsible for many disasters that had claimed lives and damaged property in past years.

The government will launch a campaign to encourage the public to change aspects of their lifestyle deemed harmful to the environment and to join the fight to reduce pollution.

Rachmat said the campaign would seek to remind people of how excessive energy consumption and ignorance of sanitation contributed to environmental degradation.

"We must stop this kind of behavior. Even a small change in our behavior, like putting waste in a garbage bin, will help protect the environment," he said.

Rachmat said he was confident the nation could get the damage under control because he was seeing more people beginning to care about the environment.

"There are many more people aware of environmental issues and taking up the fight against illegal logging. They are also starting to use recycled materials," he said.

The minister also expressed a lack of concern about the forest degradation that has been reported by many green groups. Rachmat said that numbers-wise, trees planted exceeded those felled.

"We enjoy a surplus in the ratio of trees planted to trees felled," he said, adding the government had set a target of planting 400 million trees a year.

So far about 100 million trees have been planted this year, he said.

International and domestic environmental groups have said the country has lost half its forests in the past three decades.

National Environment Day this year will be marked with an exhibition, a music concert and an award ceremony.

The prestigious Kalpataru Award and Adipura Award will be given, respectively, to individuals and regional governments that have made a significant contribution to environmental conservation.

The awards will be presented at the State Palace on June 5.

The exhibition will take place at the Jakarta Convention Center on June 5-8.

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