REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MALINAU -- The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) encourages the Malinau District Administration, North Kalimantan Province to have a botanical garden for conservation and tourist site.

"As a conservation district, Malinau has potential to build its own botanical garden," Deputy of LIPI's Life Sciences Enny Sudarmonowati said here Monday.

Another potential that can be developed in the conservation district, which is 90 percent still covered by forests, are biosphere reserves that can be the world heritage.

"The botanical garden area will not change. it is in contrast to national parks or protected forests whose land areas could be possibly changed," Sudarmonowati said.

Head of LIPI Iskandar Zulkarnain said botanical garden has a function for flora and fauna conservation.

In addition, there is also a function of education, research, and local economy empowerment, in addition to giving revenues for the local administration.

LIPI, according to him, targets to develop 48 botanical gardens representing 46 regions in Indonesia by 2019.

Deputy of Malinau Head Administration Topan Amrullah said the development of the botanical garden area is an opportunity to improve local infrastructures such as roads, airports, bridges, and others.

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