June  5 is the World Environment Day. The world's concern for environmental issues has increasing in the past few decades. PT Pos Indonesia, the Indonesian Postal Administration pays great attention to the issue. Many activities have been taken by Pos Indonesia to promote environmental awareness including introducing wht so-called "Ecophila", a new theme and term in philatelic field connected to preservation of the environment.

"Ecophila", a contribution of philately for the protection of environment, is being proposed to become a special class of exhibits to be competed besides other classes in philatelic exhibitions. As a new enriched theme, it is expected to give a picture  of system of inter-actions between human beings and their surroundings.

The issuance of the "Environment" stamp series is one of the actions related to " Ecophila". The series depicts coral reefs, one of the Indonesian underwater life richness. Spanning between two continents and two oceans, Indonesian archipelago comprise many marine-rich chains. Sea gardens can be found in many places such as the We island on the norhernmost tip of Sumatera, the Thousands islands outside the Bay of  Jakarta, Pangadaran Bay in West Java, Bunaken Island in North Sulawesi, Lombok Islands in Nusa Tenggara, Biak islands in Irian Jaya and some other places.

Indonesia was once recorded as having the world's second largest quantity of coral reefs. But some of these natural resources have been spoiled due to the increasing number of visitors, some of which indifferently pick the reefs. Therefore, efforts have been done to preserve the sea gardens including the law enforcement to protect marine habitat and endangered species.

TECHNICAL DETAIL

STAMPS

Classification Stamp : Special Stamp

Product code   : 970910

Issue Date       : 5 June 1997

Denomination  : Rp 150.00; Rp 300.00 and Rp 700.00

Designs   : Coral Reefs and Marine life

 Designers         : Nurasyid and Ibnu Suroto 

Size                 : 25.31 mm x 41.06 mm 

Perforations      : 13.5  x 12.75

Colours             : 5 colours + 1 logo

Paper               : white unwatermarked

Gum                 : PVA

Printing Process : cominations of Offset and rotogravure

Printing quantity     : 1,000,000 sets

Sheet composition : 20 pieces (5x4) 

Printer              : Perum Peruri, Jakarta

FIRST DAY COVER (FDC)

Product code     : 970820

Price                 : Rp 2,000.00

Printing quantity : 20,000 pieces

Designer : Adi Es Be, DIRI Sarat Kreasi

Printer               : Perum Peruri, Jakarta

SOUVENIR SHEET (SS)

Product code     : 970830

Denomination     : Rp 2,000.00

Design                : marine life

Designer              :  Samuel Talahatu

Printing quantity : 70,000 spcs

Printer               : Perum Peruri, Jakarta

Stamp Sales Period : 5 June 1997 - 31 December 2000

Period of Validity For Postage : 5 June 1997 - 31 December 2002

Others Related Series:

Environmental Care 2007

Environmental Care 2006

Environmental Care 2005