Palu, C Sulawesi,  (Antaranews Sulteng) - German Embassy`s Representative to Indonesia David Tantow and Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Internationale Zusammenarbeit Program Director Georg Buchholz, on a visit to Central Sulawesi, were enthralled to witness the megalithic sites in the Napu Plain, Poso.

"I am excited to see the historical objects located in the Lore Lindu biosphere conservation area, Central Sulawesi," he noted here on Friday.

He admitted to have recently visited Sigi District to witness the forest conservation and community economic empowerment program being implemented through cooperation between the German and Indonesian governments.

Tantow and his colleagues have witnessed the land rehabilitation programs around the basin of Palu, Poso, and Sigi, especially in Baluase Village, Dolo Barat District, Sigi District, during the two-day visit.

"This is one of the conservation activities implemented both to preserve nature and the environment as well as to improve the welfare and economy of the local people around the Lore Lindu biosphere reserve area," he remarked.

Lore Lindu has been known for being included in the Lore Lindu National Park (TNLL) also declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a biosphere conservation area in 1977.
  The megalit sites in Kabupaten Poso need to be protected by local regulations  (ANTARA/Basri Marzuki)

The people living around the TNLL area are concerned about preserving it.

Furthermore, the economy and welfare of the local people will improve due to the empowerment. Forests, including the flora and fauna as well as various historical sites, are maintained well by the local residents.

Tantow noted that megalithic sites in the Napu, Bada, and Behoa Plains of Poso District, especially in Watutawu Village, Lore Piore Sub-district, and Tamadue Village, East Lore Sub-district, are proof of human civilization in ancient times.

Hence, the government and society should continue to maintain them together, as the ancient objects are only found in the biosphere reserves of Lore Lindu.

"This is an extraordinary wealth of the government and people of Central Sulawesi as well as Indonesia," he emphasized.

The same view was also conveyed by Buchholz and consultant of Forest programme III Central Sulawesi Bernd Unger.

The German government claimed it is paying significant attention to the biosphere reserves of Lore Lindu, which is rich in diverse forms of flora and fauna, art and culture, and several historic objects.

Forest Program Consultant III Sulawesi Unger conveyed that during a visit to the megalithic site in Tamadue Village, East Lore, representatives of the German Embassy, accompanied by Head of TNLL Jusman and Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Internationale Zusammenarbeit and PIKA from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, were greeted with a custom ceremony and traditional cuisines. Chairman of the Assembly Hondo Pekurehua Taweilia Lore Harry Kabi was present on the occasion.

According to Unger, the reception was extraordinary and will not be forgotten, as they were accepted as Hondo residents of Pekurehua Taweilia.

The custom ceremony is usually held by the local residents to welcome special guests in the region.

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