Indonesia and Timor Leste have reached an agreement on the management of catchment areas (DAS) along the two countries areas.
The agreement was made during a meeting between Indonesian Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya Bakar and Timor Leste’s Coordinating Minister of Economic Affairs and Agriculture and Fisheries Aleixo Da Silva in Jakarta on August 24.
According to Bakar, the two countries have initiated an inter-country catchment area management plan (RPDAS).
In 2015, the RPDAS formulation programme will be started with the collection of data and information.
Meanwhile, Aleixo Da Silva said the two sides also agreed to conduct joint patrols to fight illegal trading of good, wild plants and animals.
He also said forestry development will be one of the prioritised sectors of the Timor Leste government, as part of efforts aimed at minimizing the impact of climate change and global warming.
Timor Leste wishes to learn from Indonesia’s experience in forest protection and exploitation and the development of botanical gardens and safari parks, he added.-VNA
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Siti Nurbaya Bakar (Photo: ANTARA)
