Ministry Of Forestry And ANTAM Unveil The Center For Biodiversity Conservation At The Halimun-Salak

Minister of Forestry Zulkifli Hasan and ANTAM’s President Director Alwin Syah Lubis officially open the center today.

The inauguration ceremony features the symbolic release of the Javan Hawk-eagle (Spizaetus Bartelsi) and Javan Gibbon (Hylobates Moloch). Both species are protected endemic species of West Java. The ceremony also plants hundreds of local origin trees at the Halimun-Salak Mountain National Park area. The planting event is to support government’s one billion tree-planting program  in 2010.

ANTAM’s President Director Alwin Syah Lubis, said:

"The cooperation between ANTAM and the Ministry of Forestry reflects our commitment to preserve Indonesia’s flora and fauna. We aim to minimize the impact of mining operations to the local habitat and biodiversity through proper enviromental management and implementation of good mining practices.”

The Center for Biodiversity Conservation at the Halimun-Salak Mountain National Park comprises of the Center for Research & Education of Local Origin Trees and Plants, the Center for Local Origin Hatchery and Tree Planting, nursery facilities, and the Centre for Land Reclamation and Restoration.

The Ministry of Forestry plans to   establish the Halimun-Salak Mountain National Park as the Center for Biodiversity Conservation. The Center will be the largest biodiversity center in Southeast Asia.