ENVIRONMENT

Kaupelanese people are extremely concerned about environmental preservation and conscious of the limited natural resources of our planet and especially of their tiny 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, waste recycling and environment preservation.

Nowadays about 51% of all domestic waste is recycled or used for composting. From the rest, 60% is incinerated to generate electrical power in burners. Throwing trash in public or private areas or not complying with the rules for selective waste gathering is against the law and subject to expensive fines. Vehicle exhaust and noise emissions are periodically inspected according to rigorous environmental standards.

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


FLORA & FAUNA

Sandalwoods, lemon-grass (Cymbopogon citratus), candlenut (Aleurites moluccanus), sea-almond trees (Terminalia catappa), nutmeg trees (Myristica fragrans), banyan fig trees (Ficus microcarpa), breadnut trees (Artocarpus camansi), ironwood (Intsia bijuga); several palm trees like sago (Metroxylon sagu), areca (Areca catechu), lontar (Borassus flabellifer), cabbage palm (Corypha utan) and coconut trees are examples of the flora. Cuscuses (Spilocuscus maculatus), deers (Rusa caupelanensis), babirusas (Babyrousa babyrussa), lizards, monitor lizards (Varanus visanoensis), bandicoots (Rhynchomeles prattorum), fruit bats/flying foxes (Pteropus chrysoproctus); snakes - reticulated pythons (Malayopython reticulatus), death adders (Acanthophis laevis), sea snakes (Aipysurus laevis); various bird species such as cockatoos, cassowaries (Casuarius casuarius), ospreys (Pandion cristatus), wild scrubfowl (Eulipoa wallacei), fruit dove (Ptilinopus iozonus iozonus) and parrots are representative of the fauna. Fishes, turtles, saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), dugongs and corals are the marine fauna. Furthermore, there are animals not indigenous to the islands, but introduced, like wild pigs, civets, monkeys and water buffaloes. From 1980 on, national parks and biological reserves were created to preserve the native fauna and flora.The parks and reserves are:

    Wuarwalu Ridge National Park (Sutung Tana Ratra Wuarwalu) - Wisanu

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

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

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