Alit Kertaraharja, The Jakarta Post, Singaraja
Balinese people’s awareness of the importance of protecting endangered animals is on the rise, as indicated by the release of newly hatched baby turtles into the sea by fishermen in Seririt, Buleleng, on Tuesday.
The fishermen set free 15 of 85 baby turtles, which belong to an endangered species protected under Law No. 5/1990 and a 1999 government regulation.
Local fishermen also released nine adult turtles into the sea earlier in the year. “This ceremony was the first to be conducted by the fishermen. But their awareness of the importance of protecting endangered animals has been improving since the release of the nine adult turtles earlier this year,” Sulanyah village head Gede Sutarma said during the release of the 15 baby turtles.
The turtle release was witnessed by Seririt district head IGN Wiarsana, the head of the Bali Natural Resources Office, Putu Citra S.A., and the founder of the Pemuteran turtle project, Christ Brown.
Sulanyah beach has long been known as a favorite site for turtles to lay eggs. Local people often find eggs scattered across the sand. Many of the eggs are eaten by dogs or simply collected by residents for consumption.
“Basically they didn’t know how to care for the eggs until they hatched, until now,” Sutarma said.
About two months ago, local people found an adult turtle that was ready to lay eggs. Unsure what to do, they contacted Brown, who has been developing the Pemuteran turtle project in Gerokgak district.
Following Brown’s suggestion, the local people collectively tended and protected the turtle until it finally laid 350 eggs.
On Nov. 17, 85 of the eggs hatched and 15 of them, which were strong enough to survive, were released into the sea.
The rest of them are being raised in the Pemuteran project’s nursery until they are of sufficient size to be released.
About 250 eggs are being kept on the nearby beach. “We are waiting to see whether they are going to hatch,” said Sutarma, who acted as the coordinator of the baby turtle release.
Bali has been in the spotlight over the last few years as it is considered to be a location where turtles are butchered for their meat. Protests have come from many parts of the world with urgent calls to the government to end the slaughter.
Their protest is understandable as the endangered turtles, which can be found in all oceans throughout the world, belong to the global community. The turtles frequently emigrate long distances in a relatively short period of time. They can travel 3,000 kilometers in 58 to 73 days, according to experts’ observation.
Turtles have various cycles to lay eggs from once in two years, to once in eight. Turtles that once laid eggs on Indonesian beaches can frequently be found around Hawaii.
While male turtles spend most of their time at sea, the female ones go to the beaches when they are about to lay eggs. On the sandy beaches, the female turtles lay eggs and bury them in a hole. Out of hundreds of eggs laid by a female turtle, only dozens reach the sea.
Source: The Jakarta Post
November 23rd, 2007
(my-indonesia) The Ministry of Environment, Republic of Indonesia will host The Conference of the Parties (COP) Thirteenth Session and Conference of the Parties as the meeting of the parties the Kyoto Protocol, Third Session (COP-13/MOP-3), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at Bali on 3-14 December 2007.
Tourism not only contributes to climate change but is affected by it as well. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Indonesia will actively involve on these events which focus on issues of global climate changes, as a consequence to these issues significance effect on Indonesia’s tourism, particularly on Indonesia inbound tourism market and the impact on various nature attraction in Indonesia.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism in coordination with UNWTO and Secretariat of UNFCCC to held side event “Conference on Climate Change and Tourism – Responding to Global Challenges” which will be held on:
Day/Date : Tuesday, December 11 2007
Time : 01.00 pm – 03.00 pm (GMT+8)
Venue : Grand Hyatt Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali
Speakers : 1. Dr. Daniel Scott
2. Dr. Shardul Agrawala
3. Mr. Andrew Skeat
4. Mr. Peter de Jong
The seminar is a routine agenda from UNFCCC and has been published on UNFCCC website.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism has arranged the following parallel events on the UNFCCC conferences:
a. Seminar on the Impact of Climate Change to Indonesia’s Tourism, hold on:
Day/Date : Monday, December 10, 2007
Time : 08.00 am – 05.00 pm (GMT+8)
Venue : Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur Bali
Speakers : International:
1. Secretary General of UNWTO, Mr. Geofrey Lipman
2. Dr. Daniel Scott
3. Dr. Tery de Lacy
National:
1. Minister of Culture and Tourism, H.E. Ir. Jero Wacik, S.E.
2. Minister of Environment, H.E. Dr. Rachmat Witoelar
3. Indonesia Tourism Industry Representative
Participants : 1. Central and Provincial Government of Indonesia
2. Indonesia Tourism Associations/Industries
3. Tourism Education Institution
4. Press Media
b. Post Conference Tour, will be held at Samboja (East Kalimantan), Pulau Komodo, and Bali on 15 – 17 December 2007.
c. Exhibition, exhibit tourism products and facilities of Indonesia, will be held at Pulau Besar, Bali on 8 – 14 December 2007.
d. Function/Hospitality/Cultural Performance, will be held at Grand Bali Beach Hotel on 10 December 2007. Welcoming 500 speakers and delegates from UNWTO, government official, environmental expert, tourism associations/ industries, tourism education institutions.
e. Press Conference, will be held at Grand Bali Beach Hotel on December 10, 2007 following the grand opening of “Seminar on the Impact of Climate Change to Indonesia’s Tourism”.
f. Advance Seminar on Integrated Tourism Development, hold on:
Day/Date : Tuesday and Wednesday/ December 18–19, 2007
Place : Hotel Le Meridien, Jakarta
Participants : 1. Central and Provincial Government of Indonesia
2. Tourism Associations/Industries
3. Tourism Education Institution
4. Press Media
Speakers : 1. Minister of Culture and Tourism, H.E. Ir. Jero Wacik, SE
2. Minister of Home Affairs, H.E. Mr. Mardiyanto
3. The Industry and Environmental Expert
g. “A Thousand Trees Planting”, will be held at Bali on December 11, 2007 (tentative). This event will be commence by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and attended by government institution, tourism industry/association, tourism education institution, etc.
Source: http://my-indonesia.info/
November 23rd, 2007