RI NEEDS TO TAP ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF ITS BIODIVERSITY

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Jan 27 (Antara) - Scientists acknowledge that Indonesia has abundant biodiversity, with at least three million species, including plants, with extraordinary properties that could be utilized to produce antibiotics having high economic potential.          "All sources of biodiversity have high potential which, if studied, can become extraordinary economic resources," Hari Sutrisno, the chief zoology researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences' (LIPI's) Biological Research Center, stated on Thursday last week.          Such potentials have yet to be explored maximally, though these could virtually become the sources for bioeconomic development as an asset to develop the economy of this country, he explained.          However, LIPI still lacks adequate researchers to conduct studies on the country's rich biodiversity. According to LIPI, Indonesia only has about 40 researchers per million population, while in Europe, the ratio could reach two thousand researchers per million.          As part of its efforts to advance research, LIPI has cooperated with its German partner, Museum of Naturkunde (MfN). The cooperation in biodiversity research is aimed at developing bioeconomy that would offer prosperity to the people.