TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Horticulture Food Plants Conservation Agency (BPTPH) of West Sumatera Province planned to turn Nagari Koto Kaciak in Tanjung Raya District, Agam Regency into an owl agro-tourism region in the near future.
"To achieve the target, we hoped to receive support from the Agam Regency Government to allocate funds from the regional budget to add more owl nests, constructing roads around the region, and other developments," said Mufridawati, Chief of Climate and Impact of Climate Changes Division of West Sumatera BPTPH on Sunday, April 9, 2017.
According to Mufridawati, transforming the region into an agro-tourism center will attract tourists and in return, improve local welfare.
"If the target can be achieved, there will be food and beverage vendors around the area," Mufridawati said.
Mufridawati said that until today, the West Sumatera BPTPH had provided three owl enclosure in 2015, and another two in 2017. In addition, Mufridawati stated that the BPTPH had provided training on owl conservation for local farmers.
Coordinator for Pest Observation of Agam Regency Asmardi M. Added that Nagari Koto Kaciak is perfect to be developed into an owl agro-tourism center because it has a large owl population.
In addition to a large population of owls, Nagari Koto Kaciak had also issued a Peraturan Nagari (local regulation) on owl conservation. The regulation states that anyone who disturbed and deliberately shot owls will be punished.
"With the presence of the local regulation, the presence of owls have been undisturbed," Asmardi stated.
ANTARA
