Press Release | 18 September 2006

Forestry Minister Repeals Law on Turtle Eggs Hunting in Kepulauan Riau, Sumatra

Contents

• Forestry Minister Repeals Law on Turtle Eggs Hunting in Kepulauan Riau, Sumatra
• For further information, please contact

 

Another step forward in turtle conservation has been taken by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia through stopping yield of turtle eggs in Tambelan Regency, Kepulauan Riau Province, Sumatra. Prior to this, the hunting of green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) eggs was considered legal in the area based on Forestry Minister's Resolution Number 750/Kpts-II/1999. Thus, people were allowed to obtain yield of turtle eggs, despite the fact that all turtle species are protected by law.

According to Statutory Law No. 5 of 1990 concerning Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation, the use of any parts of a protected species is illegal. Violation to this regulation is subject to a sentence of maximum 5 years in prison and Rp 100.000.000 fine. Whereas according to Government Regulation No. 7 of 1999 on the Preservation of Plants and Animal Species, all turtles in Indonesia are categorized as protected wildlife.

The existence of Resolution No. 750/Kpts-II/1999 affirming green and hawksbill turtle as legally hunted species has pressed Lembaga Advokasi Satwa (LASA) or the Animal Advocacy Institute to write letters and lobby the government in order to repeal the resolution that is endangering the existence of turtles in the wild. LASA's efforts resulted in a fruitful outcome when at last, on 17 July 2006, the Forestry Minister MS Kaban repealed Resolution Number 759/KPts-II/1999. Elimination of the aforementioned regulation is based on a new resolution SK.392/Menhut-II/2006.

Elimination of the Forestry Minister Resolution that had once permitted collecting turtle eggs in Riau, is hoped to put an end to the activity in the area. ‘‘We hope that the Regional Government of Kepulauan Riau will respect and enforce the new resolution which bans hunting and collecting turtle eggs in Tambelan Regency, Riau,’’ stated LASA Director, Irma Hermawati, SH.

LASA is a member society of ProFauna continuously administering advocacy for Indonesian wildlife. ProFauna alongside with LASA is committed to work hard for the protection of turtles from illegal hunting and trade. ‘‘ProFauna congratulates the repeal of the Forestry Minister Resolution which had prior mentioned turtles as legal hunting species. This will further strengthen the image of an Indonesian government that supports turtle and ecological conservation,’’ mentioned Coordinator of ProFauna's Turtle Campaign, I Wayan Wiradnyana.

For further information, please contact:

Irma Hermawati, SH, Director of LASA
phone: +62 812 8101907
email: irma@profauna.net

Wita Wahyu Widyayandani, ProFauna Bali Representative
HP. 08179706066
email: bali@profauna.net