25 Feb 2008
- The Indonesian government has moved against
rampant illegal trade in threatened species
of turtles and tortoises, tightening regulations
and contacting countries where turtles and
tortoises are being obtained or sold.
The action follows revelations
that more than half the species of freshwater
turtles and tortoises being sold in Jakarta’s
markets are threatened and illegally obtained.
The report, by TRAFFIC,
a joint programme of WWF and IUCN - the
World Conservation Union, was released last
month.
From 1 March 2008, all
specimens of freshwater turtles and tortoises
listed in CITES (Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora) will require an import permit
before entering into Indonesia. Those without
will be disposed of.
The Indonesian government
went into action in response to a report
issued by the WWF-linked wildlife trade
monitoring network TRAFFIC which highlighted
the rampant illegal trade in tortoises and
turtles in the pet markets of Jakarta.
“This is the kind of
swift and decisive action that is needed
to stamp out the illegal trade in threatened
tortoise and turtle species”, said Azrina
Abdullah, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast
Asia.
Countries of origin
will also need to notify Indonesia before
issuing export permits.
Private people already
owning tortoises and turtles in Indonesia
will have to comply with a new CITES Management
Authority registration, the government announced.
The new regulations
will benefit threatened species such as
Radiated Tortoise and Indian Star Tortoise,
which are amongst the most popular in trade,
despite both being listed in the CITES Appendices
and being protected in their native countries
of origin.
+ More
Beam Kawee will sing
in tune with WWF-Thailand
28 Feb 2008 - WWF-Thailand
recently chose the well-known singer Beam-Kawee
Tanchararak as its first ambassador. His
duty is to draw public attention to WWF
work, such as the Earth Hour Campaign on
29 March.
Beam will act as a speaker
to encourage people, particularly young
ones, to protect natural resources and the
environment, and help to raise funds for
conservation projects.
“I am thankful to WWF-Thailand
to give me such an opportunity to contribute
to society”, said Beam.
The young man is part of the famous boys
band D2B, who won over teens with such hits
as “Tor Na Chan” and “Mai Mee Ther Wannan
Mai Mee Chan Wannee”. The three boys were
awarded a MTV trophy some years ago as Thailand’s
Best group and made their debut movie in
“Sanghorn”.
After one of the three
boys, Big, died recently, the group was
reformed as a duo called “Dan and Beam”.
Beam is currently studying at Chulalongkorn
University, one of the best in the country.
Last January, the singer
visited Bang Poo Natural Education Centre
to learn how WWF-Thailand works.
He also discovered the
Panda Youth Ambassador Camp, a youth camp
to educate and raise youngster’s awareness
on environment, turtles and Andaman conservation.
Beam’s producers, RS
Company, are already working as WWF-Thailand
volunteers. “We chose Beam because we want
our artists to dedicate themselves to this
project and he is really interested in environment”,
said Pornpan Techarungchaikul, RS president
of operation.
For Dr. Robert Mather,
senior manager of Mekong Ecoregion Program,
an environmental ambassador should be a
publicly recognized figure, concerned with
the environment, determined, enthusiastic
and leading an environmentally-friendly
life.
