ENVIRONMENT

The Kaupelanese people are extremely concerned about environmental preservation and conscious of the natural resource limitations in our planet and especially in their minute national territory. Decades of education and government programs, aiming a better life for the future generations, lead to surprisingly good results in terms of water, electricity and other resources saving, fighting against pollution, garbage recycling and environment preservation.

Nowadays about 40% of all domestic garbage is recycled. From the rest, 75% is used to generate electrical power by means of biodigesters and burners. Throwing trash in public or private areas or not complying with the rules for selective trash gathering is against the law and subject to expensive fines. Vehicle exhaust and noise emissions are periodically inspected according to rigorous environmental standards.

From the 70’s on, programs to control the population growth were also implemented by the government to avoid the demographic explosion and to ensure the equilibrium between the available resources and the even growing consumption, considering the high population density of Kaupelan. The target of two children per couple, achieved in the 90’s, was replaced by more drastic measures to reduce to one child per family. One of these measures is the cut of income tax deduction for parenthood, approved in 2003. Abortion, however, remains illegal by the Constitution.

The companies operating in the country are subjected to rigid environmental standards and constant inspections concerning pollution and environment destruction. Any disrespect to these standards is considered environmental crime, subjected to severe punishments and indemnities.

From 1980 on, national parks and biological reserves were created to preserve the native fauna and flora. Sandalwoods, nutmeg trees, banyans, several palm trees (sago, areca, lontar, etc.) and coconut trees are preserved at these places as well as animals like cuscuses, wild pigs and cats, deers, the giant lizards known as wade (Varanus visanoensis), bats, monkeys, various bird species such as cockatoos, cassowaries, parrots, birds-of-paradise and the wild fowl known as malèè. Fishes, turtles and corals are preserved in marine areas. The parks and reserves are:

Hituwalo Ridge National Park (Sutung Tana Ratara Hituwalo) - Wisanu

Lake Suduk National Park (Sutung Tana Ranu Suduk) - Nilau

Sartong Atoll Marine National Park (Sutung Tana Tasi Nuhura Sartong) - Kiwangar

Weber Basin Biological Reserve (Wasume Biyoloji Uwan Weber) - Terong