Jakarta, 23 October 2019 – The Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry (Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan/KLHK) of held a Technical Coordination Meeting of the Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation (KSDAE) on Wednesday, 23 October 2019. It was attended by Wiratno as Director General of the KSDAE KLHK, Indra Exploitasia as Director of Biodiversity Conservation, the Head of BKSDA, and their partners.
The event was officially opened by Director General of KSDAE KLHK, Wiratno, who presented the awards to partners and individuals who championed and played active roles in conservation efforts of nature and wildlife around Indonesia. Chairman of ARSARI Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YAD), Hashim Djojohadikusumo, received an award as a champion in wildlife conservation for his role in establishing a prestigious wildlife rescue and rehabilitation center for Indonesia.
Hashim’s concern for Indonesian endangered wildlife had been clearly demonstrated by the establishment of the Dharmasraya Sumatran Tiger Rehabilitation Center (PR-HSD) since 29 July 2017.
“The Indonesian government calls all parties to take active roles in the effort to conserve nature and wildlife in this country,” Wiratno stated in his opening speech.
“Natural conservation is not simply a work. It is the way of life that God has chosen for us. We should express our gratefulness by working with sincerity, passionately, and smartly,” he concluded.
The government, in this case the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and especially the Director General of KSDAE, hoped that many partners will build a new culture and understanding of these conservation efforts.
Representing Hashim Djojohadikusumo in receiving the award as a champion for wildlife conservation was Catrini Pratihari Kubontubuh, Executive Director of YAD.
Trust in YAD’s conservation efforts is inseparable from the hard work of PR-HSD team in cooperation with the West Sumatra KSDA Office, which until today has succeeded in releasing four Sumatran tigers, several sun bears, and other Sumatran endemic animals back to the wild.
In this occasion, Directorate General KSDAE of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry also awarded 11 other individuals who actively campaigned for environmental conservation, one of whom was Agustinus Gusti Nugroho or Nugie, a musician and environmental activist who expressed his concern in conservation through his musical works.
The Technical Coordination Meeting of the 2019 KSDAE Directorate took place from 23 to 25 October 2019 at the Kartika Candra Hotel, Jakarta.