Indonesia, U.S. Strengthen Joint Efforts on Conserving Wildlife

The United States and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding February 17 to boost joint efforts to protect wildlife and promote conservation in Indonesia.

The United States and Indonesia signed a memorandum of understanding February 17 to boost joint efforts to protect wildlife and promote conservation in Indonesia.

The agreement will allow the United States and Indonesia to strengthen capacity for wildlife conservation and management, the State Department said. Activities will include efforts to protect critical habitat, strengthen scientific information in support of conservation programs, build public awareness, stabilize and increase populations of threatened and endangered species, strengthen law enforcement capacity, and combat illicit harvesting and trade in wildlife species in Indonesia, the department said.

“The United States values Indonesia’s growing leadership on global challenges and is excited to work jointly on issues where we have a common interest, such as: environmental protection and climate change, strengthening democratic institutions, increased regional integration, respect for human rights, increased transparency, and peace and stability,” the department said.

Above, a Sumatran tiger stands on a tree at a zoo in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia. There are only about 400 of the cats left in the wild, compared to about 1,000 in the 1970s, according to the World Wildlife Fund.