Three Indonesian Nature Reserves Recognized By UNESCO

JAKARTA - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) named three Indonesian biosphere reserves at its 32nd meeting, the Man and the Biosphere Program International Coordinating Council (MAB-ICC).

The three Indonesian nature reserves and biosphere that are included in the list include Bunaken Tangkoko Minahasa, Karimunjawa Jepara Muria, and Merapi Merbabu Menoreh.

"For Indonesia, the establishment of biosphere reserves is not only aimed at protecting and preserving the environment but also provides socio-economic benefits to the people living in the surrounding areas," said the Ambassador and representative of the Indonesian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, Surya Rosa Putra, as reported by Between, Thursday, 29 October.

Not only Indonesia, there are 24 other biosphere reserve proposals that are included in the UNESCO list. In total, there are 714 nature reserves spread across 129 countries.

The three Indonesian biosphere reserves have their own peculiarities. The Bunaken Tangkoko Minahasa biosphere reserve is a volcanic ecosystem that has underwater biodiversity.

The Karimunjawa Jepara Muria biosphere reserve is a unique ecosystem in the form of a mosaic of islands, lowlands, and mountains, while the Merbabu Menoreh Merapi biosphere reserve is a mountainous forest ecosystem that is home to Javanese species of plants and fauna.

Putra voiced the commitment of the Indonesian government to preserve three nature reserves. Being part of the World Biosphere Reserve Network (WNBR) provides an opportunity for Indonesia to forge scientific and socio-economic cooperation with fellow UNESCO member countries, he stressed.

With the designation of the three world nature reserves. This means that Indonesia already has 19 nature reserves in the World Network of Biosphere Reserve from UNESCO.