JAKARTA - The Bekasi Regency Government in West Java Province has chosen six types of flora and fauna as candidates for regional icons.
"These six candidates consist of three flora and three fauna. Through a poll, each will be chosen to become an icon of Bekasi Regency," said Head of Economic and Development Affairs at the Bekasi Regency Research and Development Agency, Indra Wahyudi in Cikarang, quoted from Antara, Saturday, March 11.
"So it was a long process before there were these six candidates. The expert team has conducted a study and will now be thrown into the community in the form of a poll," he said.
Based on the results of a study conducted two years ago regarding environmental conditions, history, and other factors, he said, the Bekasi Regency Government chose the lotus flower, the banteng mango, and the alkesa fruit as flora for regional icon candidates.
Lotus is designated as a candidate because it is widely found in the Bekasi Regency area, while the large mango dalbanbadam has received a certificate from the Ministry of Agriculture as a typical mango variety in Bekasi Regency.
The alkesa fruit, often called the Dutch sawo, is a unique type of fruit that is often found in Bekasi Regency.
"So the shape is yellow like sawo, but if it opens it feels like sweet potatoes, there are specialities in itself," said Indra.
The Bekasi Regency Government also chose three types of fauna as candidates for regional icons, namely letung Javanese, blekok bluwek, and bentet.
"On average, this fauna exists in the northern region, such as Javanese tung in Muaragembong. Only in the original Muaragembong, because it does live in mangrove trees," said Indra.
He said that the determination of flora and fauna as regional icons is part of the government's efforts to preserve the flora and special fauna.
"So, at least that's how the flora and fauna are not extinct. As is known, the population of Javanese tungs is very small, so it is hoped that this support can prevent extinction," he said.
Head of the Suriadi Poll Team said that polls regarding the selection of regional flora and fauna icons were opened to all residents with identity cards (KTP) in Bekasi Regency.
Residents can visit the sub-district office in the domicile area to register for a poll on the selection of regional icons' flora and fauna.
"Our target is to open a poll to be filled by the community evenly in all sub-districts. This poll has been opened since last February and is still running today," said Suriadi.
According to him, currently there are 800 votes that are included in the poll for the selection of flora and fauna from the Bekasi Regency icon.
He encouraged residents to participate in the poll.
"Immediately contact the sub-district to participate. The more people who participate, the better," said Suriadi.
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