ABSTRACT
Indonesia is a mega diversity country. It has around 10 to 20% of plant and animal species that exist in the world. However, the existence of natural resources and ecosystems in Indonesia are being threatened due to several factors, one of which is the illegal trade in endangered species. Indonesia has ratified CITES since 1978. This article attempts to answer the questions of how Indonesia has translated the Convention’s provisions on the use of criminal sanctions into its national laws and how these laws have been put into practice. To answer these questions, the article will explore various laws and regulations addressing the classification of endangered species in Indonesia. This article will also discuss the use of penal sanctions for illegal trading of endangered species, and analyze several factors likely to undermine the effectiveness of law enforcement. In analyzing the effectiveness of law enforcement for illegal trading of endangered species in Indonesia, this paper will focus on the trading of endangered animals. This article observes not only that Indonesia’s law on conservation of biological resources has provided limited sanctions, but also that law enforcers do not fully understand the seriousness of trafficking in endangered species in Indonesia. The article provides some recommendations for the improvement of law enforcement against illegal trade in endangered species.
