Bentuang Karimun National Park: integrated conservation and development in Indonesia

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) has funded a project for the Bentuang Karimun National Park (BKNP) of the Department of Forestry of Indonesia [Project Bentuang Karimun PD 26/ 93 Rev. 1 (F)]. It started on November 1995 and is implemented by WWF Indonesia. The main objective is to develop a model of natural forest management through a National Park system that not only will serve conservation of species and ecosystems, but will also accommodate other purposes such as the socio-economic development of local and regional communities. This will include: 1) the development of the BKNP as a National Park by conserving the biodiversity values of the area and that of research, educational, recreation and tourism potential of the area; 2) to initiate regional development and promote economic, scientific, educational, cultural, and touristic cooperation between Indonesia and Malaysia, particularly between West Kalimantan and Sarawak.