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Deer-breeding research center opens near CIFOR

Indonesia's Minister of Forestry, Mr. MS Kaban, launched a deer breeding project in the Dramaga research forest that surrounds CIFOR's campus in Bogor, Indonesia. Guests of honour at the launch were members of CIFOR's Board of Trustees (BoT), CIFOR's management and staff. Photo by Eko

May 16, 2008: Indonesia's Minister of Forestry, Mr. MS Kaban, today launched a deer breeding project in the Dramaga research forest that surrounds CIFOR's campus in Bogor, Indonesia. Guests of honour at the launch were members of CIFOR's Board of Trustees (BoT), who were in Bogor for the week to attend CIFOR's annual board meeting. Accompanying the BoT were CIFOR's management group and a number of CIFOR staff.

In launching the new project, Minister Kaban said rising food prices were having a negative impact on the lives of Indonesia's poor and low income groups. He said initiatives such as the deer breeding project could eventually help alleviate some of these impacts, noting that deer could one day become an important source of protein.

Known as the "Center for deer breeding technology research and ecotourism", the Minister described the deer breeding programme as a "production-conservation" initiative.

According to the Minister, the initiative will "require a production-conservation approach to ensure it is sustainable, but the focus should not overly emphasize conservation." He also emphasized.

The breeding programme has selected the eastern deer (Cervus timorensis), a species that is considered to have significant economic potential and which is endemic to the region. Native to forests on the Indonesian islands of Java, Bali and Timor, the eastern deer has also been introduced to the Australian mainland. It is also found on many remote Australian islands, where they may have been introduced by Indonesian fishermen.

According to the project's brochure, animals such as deer are an example of how a forest product or service can benefit society in a range of different ways. In addition to being a source of food, the deer will enhance the Dramaga forest's recreational and eco-tourism functions, and prove very useful in the area of study and research.

As part of the opening launch, several members from CIFOR’s BOT and senior management planted trees to celebrate the occasion.