Nature's Guardians

This week, Indonesia commemorates Flora and Fauna Day, a time to raise public awareness on the need to protect and preserve nature's wealth. In eastern Indonesia, people go out of their way to breed rare and near-extinct plants, like the orchid growers in Banjarmasin, Central Kalimantan, who banded together to build a special reserve for this exotic plant. In Sumba, the surviving species of native birds are protected by forest patrols and by regular appeals on radio stations, while in Bantimurung, South Sulawesidubbed the 'Kingdom of Butterflies' by naturalist Wallaceformer catchers of wild butterflies have become ardent conservationists. Tempo English Edition reports from Sumba, Kalimantan and Sulawesi.