VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the countries with the highest level of biodiversity in the world. In an effort to preserve this diversity, the government collaborates with various parties to carry out various conservation efforts both in natural habitats and outside their natural habitats. As an effort to introduce and monitor the circulation of wild animals at the field, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry has launched a Guidebook for Identification of Protected Animal Species. This book is made in a collaboration between Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry with the United States Agency for International Development - USAID and other related parties. The book was launched on Monday, August 5, 2019 at the Muka Kuning Nature Park, Batam as part of the commemoration of the National Nature Conservation Day - HKAN. Director General of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Wiratno after launching the book explained, in addition to education, this book can be used as a technical guide for law enforcement to oversee the circulation of protected wildlife.

“This is also important for law enforcement, then there are also studies on how to identify a type of reptile, for example dragons, this is from their morphological appearance. But in terms of DNA it is also developed,” said Director General of Conservation and Natural Resources, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Wiratno.

On the same occasion, Director of Biodiversity Conservation, Indra Eploitasia explained, this book is intended for customs, quarantine, military, police officers and actors in the field on how to recognize protected animals. According to him, there are 904 species of protected animals making it difficult for officers to identify these animals. (VOI/SEKAR/AHM)

Indonesia Diaspora Global Network (IDN-Global) once again holds the 5th Indonesian Diaspora Congress. The event will be held for three days, namely  on August 10 to 13, 2019 in Jakarta. In addition to the gathering of Indonesian diaspora from various worlds, this event will also discuss the main topics of world economic issues. IDN-Global President 2017-2019 Mark Gerald Eman at a press conference in Jakarta on Monday, said that the theme to be raised at this year's congress was' Empowering Indonesia 's Human Capital,' which emphasizes the importance of Indonesia's human resources.

"Diaspora can be united so as it is able to help Indonesia. President Jokowi in his speech strongly emphasized the importance of the needs of Indonesian talents in the future to make Indonesia increasingly follow the development of the world competition," said Mark Gerald Eman.

Meanwhile Deputy Chairman of the IDN-Global (2017-2019) Said Zaidansyah said the congress would bring together the Indonesian diaspora to discuss issues and challenges of human resource development from various sectors. The ultimate goal of this congress is to strengthen the role of the Indonesian Diaspora in improving the quality of human resources. Prominent figures to attend the congress are among others Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto and the Governor of West Java Province, Ridwan Kamil. It is expected that around 5,000 participants will attend the congress. (VOI/RIZKY/AHM)

The Indonesian government should increase promotion of the Sail Nias 2019 international maritime event to boost the island’s status as an international tourist destination, Indonesian Marine Scholars' Association (Iskindo) executive chairman Moh Abdi Suhufan stated.

"Promotion and publication are quite limited, while the peak event is drawing closer," he noted in Jakarta on Monday.
Various activities organized as part of Sail Nias 2019 must be publicized, he remarked.

Nias Island has surfing and diving spots viewed as one of the best in the world, and its coral reef is also well-preserved.

According to the coordinating maritime affairs minister’s office, Sail Nias is expected to help promote the island as a surfing heaven for international visitors.

"This should be popularized," Safri Burhanuddin, deputy in charge of coordination of human resources, science and technology and maritime culture of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, stated Jakarata on Sunday.

He pointed to the fact that Sumatra Island, including Nias, with scenic beaches, had yet to be well-known among people at large.

"We want to boost growth of maritime tourism in this region, portraying it as a heaven for surfers worldwide. The government has also designated Nias as a venue for world surfing leagues," he added.

Nias Island, located in North Sumatra Province and often viewed as the best kept secret of Indonesians, is being unveiled to the world at the international maritime event being organized from July until September 2019. The peak event of Sail Nias, the 11th series of Sail Indonesia, will be opened at a ceremony in Teluk Dalam (Bay), South Nias, on September 14, 2019.

Sail Indonesia is being held as part of the plans to expedite the development of underdeveloped regions in Indonesia.

At least 18 activities are organized during the event, including the Wonderful Nias Expo 2019, an international surfing contest, a battleship parade, Nias Marathon, a culinary bazaar, and traditional art and cultural performances.

Other activities include Wind Surfing and Sailing Contests, Free Diving Competition, Stone Jump Festival, Traditional Fishing Boat Parade, Coffee Festival, Fishing Tournament, Wonderful Tourism Photo Expo, One Thousand Tents Festival, and the Mt Sitori cultural seminar.

Sail Nias is themed "Nias Toward the Gate of World Marine Tourism Destination." (ANTARA)

The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry says it has received a commitment from the Finance Ministry and the Environment and Forestry Ministry to maximize the use of rooftop solar panels in their buildings across Indonesia.

Sutijastoto, the ministry’s director-general for new and renewable energy, said the two ministries’ buildings, whether central or regional offices, had a total potential capacity of around 100 megawatts (MW).

“The energy minister [Ignasius Jonan] has got approval from the two ministries. In five years' time, the two ministries’ offices will able to add 100 MW from their solar rooftop installations,” he told the press in a briefing 

He said that the use of the rooftop solar panels could start in 2020 on a small scale and the number would be increased in 2021. “At the earliest in 2020 they will start to install rooftop solar panels, especially the environment ministry, which will conduct its planned renovation soon,” he said.

In more detail, the Institute for Essential Service Reform (IESR), which is working together with the energy ministry in formulating a solar-rooftop roadmap, calculated that the Finance Ministry had a potential of 50 MW per rooftop solar panel.

“The Finance Ministry has a total of around 700 buildings across Indonesia, which on average could generate 78-kilowatt peak [kWp] each,” IESR executive director Fabby Tumiwa said 

Meanwhile Fabby said the environment ministry had around 200 buildings across Indonesia with average potential power capacity of 11 MW per building.