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mid an increase of the illegal trade of wildlife in Indonesia, forensic science could improve the protection of rare plants and animals, according to an official from the Environment and Forestry Ministry.

During a seminar on genomics technologies and forensic wildlife science in Jakarta, the head of the ministry’s subdirectorate of genetics resources, Moh. Haryono, revealed that the number of cases involving arrests over the illegal trade of wildlife in Indonesia increased from 120 in 2016 to 225 in 2017.

“Technology had made it easier for the perpetrators to sell protected flora and fauna because it can be done through social media,” Haryono said.

He said he believed that DNA-based technology would be able to strengthen the law enforcement against wildlife crimes in the nation.

“The DNA, which can be obtained from several samples such as animal furs and feces, can provide detailed information that can be used to add more charges against wildlife smugglers,” Haryono added.

Moreover, DNA analyses can be used to trace the origins of the trafficked protected animals and to keep track of the population size of a certain species, which could be used to determine hunting quotas.

Article 17 of Government Regulation No. 13/1994 on forestry and plantations stipulates that licensed hunters are allowed to hunt certain wild animals after receiving permits from the Environment and Forestry Ministry.

However, the article also states that said hunters are only allowed to bag a certain number of the animals, as stipulated by the government hunting permit.

Meanwhile, data on the animals’ origins can be used to add more charges against the illegal wildlife smugglers.

“For example, to protect themselves smugglers often claim that the wild animal products that they sell come from other countries, but by using DNA analysis we can prove that these products might have originated from protected animals in Indonesia,” Haryono said.

The director of the Indonesian chapter of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Noviar Andayani, said using DNA analysis to improve protection against animals would be very effective as long as all responsible parties are willing to cooperate together.

“One of the biggest challenges that we currently face is how the government, as well as local scholars and the public in general, still do not understand the importance of forensic wildlife science to preserve protected animals,” Noviar told The Jakarta Post.

Noviar explained that to analyze DNA researchers need to extract samples from animal feces or blood beforehand.

“The DNA reading itself can be done within at least three days after extraction. However, it might take a longer time to get the samples,” Noviar said.

“Hopefully we will be able to overcome these challenges if we get more support from the government and the public,” she added. Other challenges are the high prices of chemical supplies and the lack of molecular laboratories to perform DNA analyses, as well as difficulties in obtaining research permits.

According to Environmental and Forestry Ministry Regulation No. P2/2018 on access and benefit sharing of genetic resource utilization, researchers are first required to fill out three agreement letters for prior informed consent, mutually agreed terms and a material transfer agreement.

To cut the red tape, the ministry is developing the web-based Online Permit System for Genetics Resources Use on graccess.menlhk.go.id.

“We expect the system to be available as soon as possible,” he said.