Komodo Island, home of the Komodo
dragon, the largest lizard on earth, has been confirmed officially as one of
the New7Wonders of Nature.
Zurich/Switzerland: Komodo Island has been confirmed officially as one of the New7Wonders of
Nature. Making the announcement, Bernard Weber, Founder-President of
New7Wonders, congratulated the people of Indonesia and the fans of Komodo
Island in the world for so enthusiastically backing this Finalist in the global
voting campaign.
“The success of Komodo Island, the
home of the Komodo dragon, is an inspiring example of what can be done to
safeguard terrestrial and marine life forms that are extremely vulnerable to
changes in climate and the impact of human development,” said Bernard Weber.
“By voting for it in such large numbers, the supporters of Komodo Island
everywhere have expressed pride in their natural heritage, which is part of the
great mosaic that is the world.”
“We are happy and proud of this
announcement that Komodo is now confirmed,” said Komodo Island campaign leader Emmy
Hafild. “We are now preparing and planning for the Official Inauguration
events in Jakarta and on Komodo Island, whose dates will be announced in the
coming weeks.”
New7Wonders will work with the
Indonesian authorities and Komodo supporters to evolve a sustainable
development strategy that balances the needs of the Komodo habitat and its
people with the vital task of defending the park’s ecological integrity. The
concept of sustainable tourism will be one of the main agenda themes at the
first-ever New7Wonders of Nature Congress in Igauzu, Argentina, on 27 May.
In alphabetical order, the confirmed
and provisional New7Wonders of Nature are: Amazon, Ha Long Bay, Iguazu
Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo Island, Puerto Princesa
Underground River and Table Mountain.
KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
Komodo National Park is located in
the center of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and
Flores. Established in 1980, initially the main purpose of the Park was to
conserve the unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis) and its habitat.
However, over the years, the goals for the Park have expanded to protecting its
entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and marine. In 1986, the Park was
declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by
UNESCO, both indications of the Park's biological importance.
Komodo National Park includes three
major islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands
creating a total surface area (marine and land) of 1817km (proposed extensions
would bring the total surface area up to 2,321km2). As well as being
home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides refuge for many other
notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic
rat, and the Timor deer. Moreover, the Park includes one of the richest marine
environments including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, seamounts, and
semi-enclosed bays. These habitats harbor more than 1,000 species of fish, some
260 species of reef-building coral, and 70 species of sponges. Dugong, sharks,
manta rays, at least 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles also make
Komodo National Park their home.
Threats to terrestrial biodiversity
include the increasing pressure on forest cover and water resources as the
local human population has increased 800% over the past 60 years. In addition,
the Timor deer population, the preferred prey source for the endangered Komodo
dragon, is still being poached. Destructive fishing practices such as
dynamite-, cyanide, and compressor fishing severely threaten the Park's marine
resources by destroying both the habitat (coral reefs) and the resource itself
(fish and invertebrate stocks). The present situation in the Park is
characterized by reduced but continuing destructive fishing practices primarily
by immigrant fishers, and high pressure on demersal stocks like lobsters,
shellfish, groupers and napoleon wrasse. Pollution inputs, ranging from raw
sewage to chemicals, are increasing and may pose a major threat in the future.
Today, the PKA Balai Taman
Nasional Komodo and PT. Putri Naga Komodo are working together to
protect the Park's vast resources. Our goals are to protect the Park's
biodiversity (both marine and terrestrial) and the breeding stocks of
commercial fishes for replenishment of surrounding fishing grounds. The main
challenge is to reduce both threats to the resources and conflicts between
incompatible activities. Both parties have a long term commitment to protecting
the marine biodiversity of Komodo National Park.
Source : http://news.n7w.com, www.komodonationalpark.org,
