Margareth S. Aritonang, Jakarta – The House of Representatives and the Indonesian government have endorsed on Thursday two international conventions that to protect the country's biological diversity and environment.

The two conventions are the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization and the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade.

The Nagoya Protocol is a global agreement that implements the access and benefit-sharing obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). By endorsing the protocol, Indonesia will get firm control over its biodiversity richness.

With the Rotterdam Convention, the government will get a wider global reach to save the country from imported hazardous waste.

"The endorsement of both international agreements creates momentum for our efforts to save the environment," Environment Minister Balthazar Kambuaya said.

"We will have stronger power to control over our own biodiversity resources. Moreover, Indonesia will be no longer a dumping site," he added. (ebf)