Poso, C Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Environment and Forestry Alue Dohong inaugurated a bird-watching trail at Lake Tambing, Lore Lindu National Park (TNLL), Poso District, Central Sulawesi Province, on Wednesday.
"There are 56 villages around the forest area of TNLL. Hence, we have to encourage the community to help preserve the national park forest," he remarked.
He also witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the head of Poso District and the head of the TNLL Center for managing the Lake Tambing tourism destination.
"I laud the good cooperation and synergy between the local stakeholders to manage TNLL’s forestry and environmental potentials to improve people's welfare," he said.
The national park is among the lungs of the Earth, hence it has also become Indonesia’s important asset, which must always be protected, he added.
Thus, if there is any natural resource potential found in the area, a study must be conducted first before the local government and related stakeholders legally manage the potential to prevent any damage to the forest ecosystem, he stressed.
On the same occasion, Deputy Governor of Central Sulawesi Ma'mun Amir stated that the Lake Tambing tourism area has great potential to support the development of Poso District.
"However, the infrastructure in the area is not adequate. Hence, we need support from the central government to improve the facilities to support the tourism potential," he added.
Meanwhile, Head of the TNLL Center Lindu Hasmuni noted that the number of visitors to the lake is projected to reach 26 thousand people annually.
The tourism area covers 2.6 hectares of land, which is managed by 500 personnel, he said.
"The Lake Tambing tourism destination provides benefits to the community. Hence, we inked the cooperation agreement with the Poso district government on the management of the lake,” Hasmuni added.
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