Indonesia, UK to Cooperate to Recover 57 National Parks in Indonesia

Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya delivers a press statement on cooperation between Indonesia and the UK in the environment sector and nature conservation, at London Stansted Airport, the United Kingdom, on Wednesday (01/21).

Indonesia is set to cooperate with the United Kingdom in efforts to recover ecosystems and preserve the environment, especially those of Indonesia’s national parks.

This cooperation commitment was made during President Prabowo Subianto’s meeting with King Charles III of the United Kingdom in London, Wednesday (01/21).

“The President met with King Charles III. The meeting focused on cooperation and commitment from the UK to helping Indonesia improve the ecosystem and enhance the recovery of 57 national parks in Indonesia,” Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a press statement at London Stansted airport.

Teddy stated that the cooperation includes support for past and ongoing conservation efforts in several strategic areas, adding that one of the main concerns is Way Kambas National Park in Lampung province, which is known as the conservation center for Sumatra elephants.

“There are ongoing conservation efforts in Way Kambas National Park for elephants,” he said.

Teddy pointed out that in addition to Way Kambas, the cooperation also includes conservation in Peusangan district, Aceh province, which was President Prabowo’s land that had been relinquished to the state for environmental preservation.

According to Teddy, the total land area reached 90,000 hectares spread across several locations, but not all of them will be used for elephant conservation.

“Not all of them are for elephant conservation. The WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) will decide which area is for elephants and which other area is for other ecosystems,” he remarked.

President Prabowo’s meeting with King Charles III shows Indonesia’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation in environmental preservation. It also demonstrates green diplomacy as one of the top priorities in Indonesia-UK relations. (BPMI of Presidential Secretariat) (DH/TM)