New national park created in Timor-Leste : 06-08-2007
A new national park has been created in south-east Asia as part of an effort to preserve bird species and marine life unique to the area.
The Nino Konis Santana National Park is the first of its kind in the newly-created country of Timor-Leste, which was until recently part of Indonesia.
Spanning 305,415 acres, it encompasses 137,387 acres of the 'coral triangle', an area rich in coral and reef fish life.
Meanwhile, the natural habitats of the yellow-crested cockatoo cacatua sulphurea and the endangered green-pigeon treron psittaceus will also now be protected as a result of the development.
"This is great progress by the government and communities of Timor-Leste," commented Manuel Mendes, director of the department of protected areas and national parks in the country.
"After five years' work our first national park is born. It will help our nation to protect its national heritage, culture and history.
"The national park will protect globally significant biodiversity and the culture and socioeconomic livelihoods of communities living there," he added.
Crucially, three of Timor-Leste's most important wildlife areas are now linked together - a move seen as "incredibly forward-thinking" by conservation group Birdlife.
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