<
https://www.rainforesttrust.org/new-aquatic-nature-reserve-protects-critically-endangered-river-dolphins-in-borneo/>
"This month, the 106,544-acre Aquatic Nature Reserve of Pesut Habitat,
the first of two planned protected areas, has come to fruition. This
reserve covers a 58-mile stretch of the Mahakam river home to between
80% and 100% of the Mahakam River dolphin population. But this area has
also been prone to fishing techniques such as gillnetting, which can
entangle and drown dolphins. In the span of a decade, at least 32
dolphins in the Mahakam died from being trapped in gill nets. Trawling
and fishing with electricity or poison have also been detrimental to
these dolphins and other riverine species.
But this new aquatic reserve will ban these unsustainable fishing
practices and enforce conservation laws. Thirty-one communities with
around 40,000 people live along this part of the Mahakam and each
community has signed an agreement to establish the protected area. But
even before this project began, the Irrawaddy Dolphin, known as the
“Pesut Mahakam” in Bahasa Indonesia, was already widely known and
beloved. The communities have been working closely with YK-RASI to
identify core areas and zone the protected area. Local residents will
also be part of patrol teams and report to authorities on reserve status."
Via Glyn Moody.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://www.xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
http://www.glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
http://www.sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
