“If we slash the tree once, how much of microorganism is missing?”
The question asked by Dr. Drs. Wibowo Mangunwardoyo, senior researcher of microbiology at University of Indonesia, while mentioning how many of microorganism will disappear because of environmental damage.
“For example on one tree there are 60 species, we could lose all its potential. Then if a land made into mono-culture of one species only, imagine how many species of microorganisms gone before we discover them,” said Dr. Wellyzar Sjamsuridzal, who also microbiology researcher at University of Indonesia, responding to Dr. Wibowo’s question during the biodiversity dialogue as International Biodiversity Day celebration at Department of Biology, University of Indonesia, Thursday (22/5).
Dr. Welly who also board at the Center for Genome Studies of Indigenous Biological Resources, University of Indonesia (CoE IBR-GS), continues that the level of microorganism diversity in Indonesia, if includes the land and ocean, is the highest in the world. The endemicity of microorganisms level in Indonesia is also high, follow the high endemicity of animals and plants in Indonesia who became their habitat.
“It is still far from exploration. Prof. Mien A. Rifai from LIPI predict, Indonesia at least has about 200 thousand species of microorganisms, maybe known only around thousand,” he said.
That, according to Dr. Welly still underestimated by the Government of Indonesia. He gave an example, e.g. for energy, thus the future bio-fuels should be from microorganisms, such as yeast, mold or bacteria. It requires huge investment and expenses at the beginning, but for the long-term, it is much more profitable. Moreover, benefit for the environment, no need to change or convert the land into mono-culture land for bio-solar materials that step will eliminate biodiversity.
“If we use microorganisms as an agent for producing bio-fuel, we only use the fermenters. This is enough for some square meters. While its production can be many,” said Dr. Welly then mention that Brazil is an example of a success country, who success to develop and distribute bio-fuel from microorganisms.
Besides the potential of microorganisms can be used to maintain food security. For example, the production of pollen substitute to replace the availability flowers that are uncertain because of climate change. So, even though there is no flower, bees still able to produce honey. This illustrates that microorganisms can produce protein substitute.
Microorganisms also very good correlated with nano-technology, Dr. Wibowo added, for example the use of the enzymes produced by micro-organisms for detection of blood glucose, cholesterol, or even heavy metals. Microorganisms can also be used for the production of bio-control, and bio-pesticide, making it more secure without artificial chemicals.
“The biggest challenge is less human resources who interesting in exploring microorganism diversity, besides the lack of attention and fund for research and development from the government,” said Dr. Welly when asked about the greatest challenges of microorganism diversity management in Indonesia.
Being Field Theft of Genetic Material
“Every newly discovered microorganism, should be known by the world,” said Dr. Welly. He told his experiences with Japanese institution for eight years microorganism exploration in Indonesia’s tropical forests, where 40 % of isolation results were new species. We need to know the economic potential of new microorganism, usually foreign companies interested and compete to use them. Indonesia only accept royalty and it is not much.
Dr. Welly explained how easy the wealth of Indonesia’s micro-organisms stolen by foreigner. An example is avian flue the most disaffected case, the H5N1 virus that exists only in Indonesia was brought to America to be researched and made its vaccine. After the vaccine was created successfully, Indonesia asked to buy it.
Bio-piracy is often done by foreigner with many reasons, such as research, business investment or tourism. “It’s easy, just go to a place, take their land, waters, in just two months can produce a lot of microorganisms,” said Dr. Wibowo who is concern because in Indonesia there’s no strict examination of bio-security.
Antung Deddy Radiansyah, Deputy Assistant Of Biodiversity, Ministry Of Environment, Deputy Assistant Of Biodiversity, Ministry Of Environment, only up to the level of ecosystems and species, had not yet reached the level of genetic. Whereas he admitted that microorganisms in Indonesia huge, for example one gram peaty soil could containing five microorganism colonies.
So far, the prevention of bio-piracy still with Government Regulation No. 41 in 2006 which ruled that foreign researchers must get permission if they wish to do research in Indonesia,” said Antung. However, he realized that the monitoring is still far from ideal. Monitoring and description of that rule technical guidelines still not detail. “So this opens opportunity for bio-piracy, said Antung when interviewed by Ekuatorial (24/5).
The bill of genetic resources management (PSDG) actually being worked on since 2002 and proposed to the House of Representatives in 2003. But, rejected by the house because not consider as priority. Antung explained that now, the bill already consider as priorities and relevant to the existence of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing that has been ratified in Act No. 11 of 2013, so the bill continues.
Besides, also strengthened with National Medium‐Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2015-2019 Ministry of Environment (MoE) focusing on bio-diversity as the capital of state development,” he said. Therefore, he continued, the potential on biological diversity will be developed to national competitiveness in the future including microorganism wealth.
Arief Yuwono, Deputy III of Environmental Degradation Control and Climate Change, Ministry of Environment, said that the delay that ever happened in the process of the PSDG Bill used to maximize the quality of the bill. Various consultations carried out by the various parties, consolidation and harmonization at the international level with regulations that already exist.
“Now we’ve started to affirm the direction, we don’t want any blank space,” said Arief to Ekuatorial (24/5). He added that now Moe preparing rules that mediate ratification of Nagoya Protocol and the PSDG Bill.
PSDG Bill will be set up monitoring and management of genetic resource usage, including microorganism in Indonesia so the sharing profit would be fair and balanced for the country, local people and foreigners. This is consistent with the main purpose of the Nagoya Protocol established in 2011 in New York and will be applied globally by 2015 or 2016 because at the moment only 30 countries from 50 countries who have already ratified.
“PSDG Bill expected to be completed next year, 2015. The Act is expected to have a good quality as its initial goal,” said Arief. Ratih Rimayanti.