
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Forestry is conducting a survey on flora and fauna in the upstream of Citarum River as a part of Citarum watershed Management and Biodiversity Conservation (CWMBC) to map the biodiversity.
"We found many new species which previously not considered as our endemic," said the Head of Natural Resources Conservation Board in West Java, Joko Prihatno, in Bandung on Friday, September 20, 2013.
The survey is being conducted in seven natural conservation sites, which are: Mount Tilu, Mount Burangrang, Mount Tangkubanparahu, Masigit Kareumbi Hunting Park, Kamojang Crater, Tangkubanparahu Natural Park, and Kamojang Crater Natural Park.
As many as 150 new species were found and being identified and updated by Indonesian Academy of Sciences (LIPI), Jatinangor Herbarium, Ecological Agency, and FKH Laboratory of Bogor Agricultural Institute. At least 86 samples of insects, 12 mammals, 120 vegetations, and some aquatic biota life forms and herpetofauna are to be identified.
AHMAD FIKRI