REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUNGAI RAYA -- The West Kalimantan provincial administration will issue a local regulation on orangutan conservation to increase public awareness on the preservation of orangutans and their habitats.

"It is about time to have a regional regulation on orangutan conservation in West Kalimantan, as the implementation of orangutan preservation and protection is not effective at the community level," M. Zeet Assovie, a spokesman of the West Kalimantan provincial administration, stated here recently.

Nationally, the central government has issued Law Number 5 of 1990 on the conservation of biological diversity and ecosystem. However, West Kalimantan has not implemented it through a local regulation, according to Assovie.

Chairman of the Indonesian Orangutan Forum Heri Joko Susilo has lauded the plan to issue a local regulation on orangutan conservation.

He affirmed that such a regulation is necessary, but the most important aspect is the commitment of the government and the public to protect the orangutans.

In line with the commitment, the government must be more selective in issuing various permits concerning nature exploration that can harm the environment including orangutan habitats, he pointed out.

"Such as being increasingly selective in issuing permits to plantation companies," he noted.

The government regulations on environment are currently meting out a rather light punishment, which is a stark contrast to the impacts on the environment, he remarked.

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