By: Masayu Yulien Vinanda
Jakarta (06/11)-As an effort to raise public awareness on the environment, WWF-Indonesia engages PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, Tbk develop environmental education activities which are going to be concentrated in eco-park, Ancol Dreamland. Besides making it as an environmental learning centre, some public campaign activities of WWF-Indonesia will also be conducted in that integrated tourism area.
The large number of Ancol’s visitors attaining 14 millions of people peryear is one of the important factor to extend the outreach of public awareness activities. Through a representative concept of edutainment, it is expected that Ancol’s visitors will get comprehensive knowledge regarding the environment particularly WWF-Indonesia conservation efforts.
“As one of the major communication activities in WWF-Indonesia, environmental education needs to get extra attention from us. Through this partnership, I expect that public knowledge toward the environment will be well developed. As a result, public awareness on environmental issues will be broadly raised. Furthermore it is also expected to be able to encourage environmentally friendly behavior,” CEO of WWF-Indonesia Efransjah said on the MoU signing ceremony between WWF-Indonesia and PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, Tbk, Friday (05/110) in Ocean World, Ancol.

WWF-Indonesia will give inputs in helping Ancol design the edutainment concept which has been previously implemented by Ancol. WWF will also provide facilities, and educational material as well as expert staff to enhance Eco-park’s educational function, Efransjah continued. The eco-park is scheduled to be officially launched on June 2011.
Meanwhile the President Director of PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol, Tbk Budi Karya Sumadi who also attended the MoU signing, said that eco-park is one of the company’s efforts to become green company. “Eco-park is a significant initiative. We transformed the golf course into a park. To make it more legitimate and in line with its environmental spirit, we committed that this should function as the center of environmental activities. Thus, to make it possible, we need to engage with a reputable institution,” he emphasized.
Besides eco-laboratory which enables the visitors acknowledging and learning about biodiversities, the 32-ha park will also feature some habitat miniatures such as aqua habitat and fish farm, birdpark for birdwatching activities as well as other edutainment facilities. Director of PT. Pembangunan Jaya Ancol Tbk, Winarto also mentioned that Ancol would also built Seafood Savers Restaurant as one of the featured venues in eco-park.
“We will also promote WWF-Indonesia initiative, Seafood Savers, by creating a restaurant which carries out a sustainable seafood concept. Therefore, we can educate the visitors to start choosing responsible and sustainable seafood. Moreover, WWF is also welcomed to open stall which can be used to promote other WWF’s programs,"" he said.