West Papua Declares Itself 'First Conservation Province' in Indonesia, World

Jakarta Globe, Robert Isidorus, October 19, 2015

West Papua, a region famous for having a rich marine ecosystem and diverse
 flora and fauna, has declared itself as Indonesia's and the world's 'first
conservation province.' (Photo courtesy of Burufly).

Jayapura, Papua. West Papua has declared itself as the world's "first conservation province" in a signed declaration on Monday, in an bid to formally dedicate its efforts to conservation purposes.

The signing of a declaration by West Papua governor Abraham Ataruri took place at the gubernatorial office in the provincial capital of Manokwari, and was attended by Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo and West Papua district heads.

The West Papua governor admits to being the brainchild of the idea, which is intended on protecting and managing the province's natural resources in a collective effort by its residents.

“This declaration [of transforming West Papua into a conservation site] will help us maintain and manage our natural resources wisely and continuously so that [...] the future generation can enjoy them,” Abraham said.

In order to support West Papua's to function as a conservation province, the local government has created a working group (Pokja), members of which include the People's Assembly of West Papua, the West Papua legislative council, Papua State University, and international NGOs such as WWF Indonesia, Conservation International (CI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Together, they are in the process of preparing regional bills (Ranperdasus) to govern the conservation site.

West Papua is world famous for its rich marine ecosystem and diverse flora and fauna.

The Fullerton Hotel is blanketed in thick haze, in Singapore, on September 24,

2015 (AFP Photo/Roslan Rahman)

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In North Sulawesi, Blossoming Flora and Beautiful People

Jakarta Globe, Benito Lopulalan, August 24, 2012

The opening parade for the Tomohon International Flower Festival.
(AFP Photo/Figman Sunandar)

Ayoung ballerina danced in the shade of a wooden replica of the Eiffel Tower.

Not in Paris, but in Tomohon, a mountainside town in North Sulawesi, where the little girl’s mother was born.

The girl, Michelle Tumorang, 12, had come to Sulawesi from Paris for the Tomohon International Flower Festival in early August, to represent France, the homeland of her father. Michelle danced in collaboration with some girls from the Nazareth orphanage in Tomohon. They performed in a flowery car decorated with French symbols and colors. Thirty-six countries participated in the festival.

Tomohon is situated in the heart of the Minahasa plateau. A fertile land with mineral-rich volcanic ash from several peaks, the area’s inhabitants have grown coffee since 1822.

More than a century ago, nature biologist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote in his famous “Malay Archipelago” about the Minahasa people: “They are of a light brown or yellow tint, often approaching the fairness of European; of a rather short stature. In some of the inland villages where they may be supposed to be of the purest race, both men and women are remarkably handsome.”

Many Indonesians share Wallace’s opinion about the Minahasa people’s beauty, even if they might take issue with claims they are the archipelago’s handsomest.

It is from the biologist that the Wallace line, which separates the eco-zones of Asia, draws its name. Flora and fauna to the west of the imaginary line are considered Asiatic, while there is a blend of Asian and Australian species to the east.

Approaching Tomohon from Manado in North Sulawesi in 1859, Wallace was impressed by the cleanliness of the villages he passed. The streets, he wrote, were “bordered by neat hedges often formed entirely of rose-trees, which are perpetually in blossom.”

More than a hundred years after Wallace traveled to Tomohon, the handsome Minahasans, especially the people from Tomohon, have retained their love of flowers.

“It is our habit to have a flower garden in the yard,” said Asry Lantomboba, a 24-year-old from Wolowan village in Tomohon. “Every time any of us go to other places and see beautiful plants or flowers that are not in our collection, we always find a way to bring it [the seed] home.”

In 2005, the Tomohon administration declared its intention to become “Kota Bunga,” or the City of Flowers. Not for romantic reasons, but to develop flower production to make money.

Many farmers now cultivate flowers alongside their usual vegetables.

“We have growing numbers of active flower farmer groups,” said Rita Mandagi, who helps coordinate farmers. “The groups help farmers to develop and market their products.”

Members of such collectives can get better prices for their flowers. In August, for example, the price for one piece was Rp 2,300 ($0.24) for members, but only Rp 1,300 for non-members.

With one quarter of a hectare, local farmer Robert Lembong, can produce 5,000 flowers in two months, earning him a profit of Rp 7 million.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Rusman Heriawan launched 21 flower varieties on the eve of the festival in Tomohon, which he said was a result of five years of hard work.

The minister said the national center of seed research and development can produce about one million seeds for the country’s needs.

Rusman has grand designs for Tomohon flower production. He envisions new varieties, seed and fresh flower production, and other products such as chrysanthemum tea or dried flowers.

Since 2009, Tomohon has chosen what flowers to produce based on the demands of the market, Rusman said.

“It is designed to enter the competitive market, so we have to listen to the flower market,” he said.

The Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry supported the festival. “Tomohon needs a better approach in promoting its destination and products,” the deputy minister said.

So if you come to Tomohon, you might pen something similar to what Wallace wrote about his breakfast there: “I had a good breakfast of coffee, eggs and fresh bread and butter which I took in the spacious verandah amid the odor of sweet-scented flowers.”

Buddhist prayers for Indian Ocean tsunami victims in Aceh

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 12/20/2009 6:23 PM

Never forget: A Buddhist prayer leader places flowers at a mass cemetery for victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Ulee Lheu, Banda Aceh on Sunday. Nearly 230,000 people around the region were killed in the disaster. (Antara/Irwansyah Putra)

Hundreds of Buddhist residents on Sunday joined a prayer in front of a mass cemetery for people who died in the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami that hit Aceh five years ago.

The followers also took part in other rituals such as releasing flowers and lanterns to the Ulee Lheu Sea.

One of the event’s organizers, Yuswar, told news portal tempointeraktif.com this commemoration was aimed at praying for the Buddhists killed during the disaster.

“The rituals will continue until Dec. 26,” Yuswar added.

Apart from Buddhists, Islamic followers will hold similar prayers on Dec. 26.

Nearly 230,000 people around the region were killed when a tsunami, triggered by a 7.9-magnitude undersea earthquake, hit on Dec. 26, 2004. (ewd)

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Buddhists pray and release offerings to the sea at Uleelheu beach, Banda Aceh, on Sunday as part of commemorations of the upcoming anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, which left 170,000 people dead or missing and 500,000 homeless in the province of 4 million people. (Photo: Tarmizy Harva, Reuters)

NTT appeals for support for new wonder

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang | Thu, 04/02/2009 3:16 PM

The East Nusa Tenggara provincial administration has called on the international community to support its bid to include the Komodo National Park in West Manggarai as one of the new seven wonders of the world.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Leburaya raised the matter in Kupang on Wednesday in response to the polling results released by the www.new7wonder.com website, which showed Komodo National Park had dropped from 12th to 15th in the third week of March.

"The drop to 15th place shows the struggle is still on to prove that Komodo National Park, which is rich in natural resources and home to the rare Komodo dragon, should be recognized as one of the new seven wonders of the world," said Leburaya.

Those wishing to support the national park can do so via the website.

"We need to coordinate with groups that can potentially offer support for our cause, such as schools, universities, businesses and stakeholders in tourism, be it through direct campaigns or pamphlets promoting the national park," said Leburaya.

The poll results, he said, would determine whether or not the judges will select Komodo National Park as one of the new wonders of the world.

"Last year, Borobudur Temple failed to be included as a world wonder due to the lack of support from both Indonesian and international communities," said Leburaya.

Most of East Nusa Tenggara, he said, contained huge amounts of tourist potential.

"The Komodo National Park and Kelimutu Lake, in terms of natural resources and rich environments, are second to none. The province also has vast marine tourism potential given the fact its sea area is four times that of its land area," he said.

Another unique cultural experience available in the area is the whale-hunting tradition of the Lamalera community in Flores.

Green Map introduces new way to tour Jakarta

Triwik Kurniasari, THE JAKARTA POST, JAKARTA | Mon, 03/16/2009 4:26 PM

Jakartans can now enjoy the excitement of finding interesting , lesser known locations, including green spaces and historical sites, by using environmentally friendly modes of transportation, by following the recently launched 2009 Jakarta Green Map.

The green map includes 100 places of interest and neighborhoods with green activities located along bus and train routes and bicycle lanes.

Nirwono Joga, who coordinated the making of Green Map Jakarta, said that the map was designed to promote a healthy and sustainable city and features, among other things, green areas, old buildings, rare trees and bird-watching sites.

"We want to encourage people to get to know more about Jakarta, including its green areas," Nirwono Yoga said on Sunday.

"We also encourage them to travel in more environmentally friendly ways, by taking nonmotorized transportation, like walking and riding a bike, or by using public transportation, like the TransJakarta bus or trains," he said.

The 2009 Jakarta Green Map is the fifth edition. The first map, of Kemang, South Jakarta, was made in 2001 by a group of residents, architects and media workers. The second, of Kebayoran Baru, also in South Jakarta, was made in 2002. A year later, Menteng in Central Jakarta, had its turn, while the fourth green map, of Old Town in West and North Jakarta, was made in 2005.

The launch of the green map was marked by a tour of Senayan, in South and Central Jakarta and the Museum Taman Prasasti (Inscription Museum) in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.

During the tour, participants had a chance to visit Krida Loka Park and see its big, old and rare trees, which include mahogany, lobi-lobi, tamarind, bay leaf and matoa (Papuan fruits) species.

Besides rare trees, people also viewed birds including parrots and kepodangs, Evi Fadliah, from the Green Monster NGO said.

"Birds in the city often go to this area to get a rest and find food, like seeds and fruits. Many Jakartans don't know about this and it is a good opportunity for us to disperse this information," Evi said.

Redeveloped Ayodya Park opens to the public

Triwik Kurniasari,  The Jakarta Post, JAKARTA  |  Mon, 03/16/2009 3:46 PM 
 

 Early bird: A child runs along the edge of a lake at Ayodya Park on Jl. Barito, South Jakarta, on Sunday morning. The Jakarta administration moved hundreds of flower and pets vendors to revamp the 7,500-meter-square park. (JP/Triwik Kurniasari)

The official opening of the newly revamped Ayodya Park in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, on Sunday drew mixed reactions from local residents, with some welcoming the additional outside space while others claimed there were not enough trees. 

“I like this place, especially the lake. I thought the lake was newly built by the administration but was surprised to learn it has been there for years,” Lia said.

“I never once saw the lake because it was blocked by dozens of street vendors’ kiosks,” said the 29-year-old, who lives about 300 meters from the park.    

The park, located on Jl. Barito, was built around the lake, and has been part of Kebayoran Baru since 1948. From the 1970s onward, pet and flower vendors began occupying the area and establishing kiosks in the vicinity.

In 2008, the city administration decided to relocate hundreds of the vendors and restore the park.

Another visitor, Jumikem, 44, said the open space provided she and her husband with a place to jog. 

“Now, I don’t have to go to Senayan [in Central Jakarta], which is far from my home, to get some exercise,” Jumikem said.

“I come here every Sunday morning with my husband. I like taking a jog around the track in the park,” said Jumikem.

Some park-goers complained there were not enough large trees in the park, despite it occupying a 7,500-meter-square area.

“There is only one big tree that offers shelter for us. When the sun becomes too hot, I have to take my children home,” said Rianti.

“There are only palm trees and they do not offer enough protection from the sunlight,” said the 29-year-old mother of two.

Some urban experts have already slammed the Ayodya Park development, claiming it does not meet certain city park standards. 

Basuki Triwidodo, the winner of the landscape contest on which the park development was based, said he was not involved in the renovation of the park.

The administration did not use some parts of his design, he said.

“I planned to have six wells available at the park to allow rainwater to flow from the lake and maintain its quality. I also planned a playground and fitness section for children and sports fans,” said Basuki.

Governor Fauzi Bowo said the administration decided not to build the fitness section because it was afraid the facilities would be vandalized if left unguarded by security. 

The administration hopes to expand green areas in Jakarta from the existing 9.6 percent to 13.94 percent by 2010.

In the past two years, it has evicted squatters and vendors from some of the area in an effort to redesign the park.

The administration is planning on building parks in other city areas, including on Jl. Borobudur in Pegangsaan in Central Jakarta, Kebon Pisang in North Jakarta and Tebet in South Jakarta.

“We are preparing the land acquisition for the first two areas,” said Dwi Bintarto from the parks division at the city parks and cemetery agency.

Here be dragons and dives

Discover rare flora and fauna, dramatic views and untouched waters, all within easy reach of Bali, says Ben Mondy

From The Times, UK, March 14, 2009

 In the clear: a fisherman in a dugout boat in the waters off Alor island, which also provide a world-class destination for deep-sea diving. (Wolfgang Poelzer/Axiom)
 

My first experience of the bounties of the rather obscure Nusa Tenggara came about ten years ago when I dragged myself away from the world-famous waves of Bali and travelled to the lesser-known island of Lombok. Ditching the surfboard, I headed to Indonesia’s third-highest peak, Mount Rinjani, an active volcano located about three hours’ drive from the island’s capital, Mataram. 

On offer was a fairly rigorous, three-day/two-night guided trek, leaving from the village of Senaru, gateway to the huge Mount Rinjani National Park. A 3am start on the second morning brought me tired and elated to the summit for a dramatic sunrise. It was at this point, 3,762 metres (12,340 ft) above the newly lit Indian Ocean, with the whole Nusa Tenggara stretched and dotted below me as far as the eye could see, that I had the first inkling of what this part of the world could offer. 

Following that revelation, there was a two-hour descent to Segara Anak, the crater lake of Mount Rinjani. At 2,500 metres above sea level, the breathtakingly beautiful lake is is an important ceremonial site, utilised for various rituals by both the local Wetu Telu Islamic people and by nearby Hindu communities. 

And all this within reach — heck, within sight — of Bali, a favourite tourist paradise since the early 1970s. Nusa Tengarra refers to an area containing the 550 or so islands that lie to the east of Bali, stretching from the lush, mountainous Lombok all the way to the desert-like Timor. Smack bang in the middle and bisecting the island chain is what is known as the Wallace Line, named after Alfred Russel Wallace, the 19th century naturalist. 

His studies in this area in the 1850s led him to devise a dividing line that marked the transition between the flora and fauna of western and eastern Indonesia. We could go into the huge significance of this imaginary evolutionary halfway line, but for the visitor it is sufficient to know that this huge range of unique flora and fauna is what makes Nusa Tenggara such a fascinating place to visit. 

Elsewhere in Lombok, in the far south, Kuta’s great waves, stunning bays and hotels attract a steady stream of visitors, many coming for the annual ritual of the Bau Nyale, held on the second full moon of the year. And if you cannot celebrate a sea worm’s annual reproduction cycle, what can you celebrate? For more standard tourist fare, the coral reefs, white sandy beaches and beach bars of the Gili Islands, just off Lombok’s northwest coast, offer a variety of accommodation and excellent diving. 

Moving east from Lombok, Nusa Tenggara is dominated by its largest island of Sumbawa. This is drier than Lombok and its southern coastal flank, with dramatic cliffs and wild oceans, and is a favourite for thrill-seeking surfers. Sumbawa’s biggest tourist attractions, however, lie with its offshore islands on the northern, more sheltered side. 

Perhaps the most well known of these is Komodo, made famous by its Komodo dragons. While not known to breathe fire, the dragons are in fact giant monitor lizards that can grew up to four metres long. These reptilian throwbacks are considered to be the only examples of their kind left in the world and have been gorging on Komodo’s rare bird species, deer and wild pigs, not to mention each other, for half a million years. 

The whole island is a designated national park and offers only rudimentary accommodation, meaning most visitors are day trippers from nearby Sumbawa or Flores. While you will often see the dragons close to the accommodation huts (mostly dozing under a tree if my experience is anything to go by), a guided tour to see them in the wild is the key to a) seeing their primitive table manners and b) not getting devoured by an animal who can date his family tree back to the Triassic age. 

From Komodo it is a short boat trip to Flores, an untouched, volcano-strewn island that straddles the Wallace Line and provides one of the world’s most dynamic marine environments, in addition to being a famous “biodiversity hotspot”. 

With infrastructure pretty crude on most of the island, the best bet is to stay in the town of Maumere. Using this as a base, you can take advantage of the great diving and snorkelling nearby. (It was in Maumere harbour that the marine photographer Rudie Kuiter catalogued more than 1,200 species of fish, including some new to science, in 2005.) In addition there are the picturesque, coloured, cratered lakes of Keli Mutu, about half a day’s drive away. 

Crossing Wallace’s marker and into East Nusa Tenggara, the island of Sumba does not offer much for anyone except the most intrepid of explorers or those willing to make a little effort to see an authentic, ancient culture with none of the layers of Hinduism or Islam found elsewhere in Indonesia. 

“I stumbled upon this place in 1979 and have been here ever since,” Claude Graves, the American owner of the Nihiwatu Resort on the south of the island, told me on my last visit over a plate of just-caught swordfish, a cold beer and a sun setting over the surf. “I recognised a true paradise and have done everything in my power to protect the natural beauty and cultural heritage.” 

Sumba, which was once known as Sandalwood Island after its most valuable commodity, can be reached by sea, including ferries from nearby islands, and air (the only airport is situated at Waingapu on the northeast of the island). Among its offerings there is access to mind-boggling fishing and diving, some world-class surf breaks, and a glimpse into the past through tours of ancient tribal villages. 

In fact, this place may just sum up the experience of travelling through Nusa Tenggara. It is a unique mix of natural beauty and incredible culture which, for the most part, is untouched by the ravages of tourism. I’ve been there many times and only scratched the surface, but as old Wallace discovered, this is a unique part of the world that demands close inspection. 

Deep-sea dream 

• Located between the Flores and Savu Seas, in East Nusa Tenggara, Alor island sits in the Pantar Strait, a world-class destination for deep-sea diving. 
  
  
• Unlike many other parts of Indonesia, the Pantar Strait has avoided the ravages of cyanide and blast fishing. Instead the locals still practise traditional fishing methods, so the unique and incredibly diverse species of fish and coral remain both virgin and accessible. 
  
  
• Perhaps the best-known site is “Kal's Dream”, an underwater mountain named after Kal Muller, a famous Hungarian-born ethnologist who studied the tribes in West Papua, Indonesia. Muller was an experienced diver who called the area his dream site. 
  
  
• The marine life here includes two-metre long dogtooth tuna, eagle rays, silvertip sharks, grey reef sharks, barracudas and Napoleon wrasse. 
  
  
• While this site may be for expert divers, beginner sites exist that offer perfectly vertical coral walls dropping to 50 or 60 metres with more than 30 metres of visibility (most common during the best months of May till November) and the area is an ideal place for snorkelling.
  
  

Never give up

The Jakarta Post  |  Mon, 03/02/2009 11:55 AM  
 

 Two residents row a wooden boat to transport their rice crops in flooded Tiyak village, Kanor district, Bojonegoro regency. At least 49 villages in 11 districts in the regency were inundated over the past three days due to the overflowing Bengawan Solo River. JP/ID Nugroho

Getting back to nature, the herbal way

Juliana Harsianti, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 07/16/2008 12:29 PM 

The peculiar-sounding plant names Lidah Mertua and Ekor Kucing may seem unfamiliar, but most people would recognize the two plants if they saw them. 

And the place to see them is Kampoeng Djamoe Organik (KaDO), a herbal medicine village set up by Martha Tilaar, the owner of traditional cosmetics brand Sariayu. 

 

  Children play in the gardens of Kampoeng Djamoe Organik herbal medicine village set up by cosmetics giant Martha Tilaar, in Cikarang, East Jakarta. (JP/Juliana Harsianti)  

Given the village is all about greenery and nature, its location is rather unexpected -- it lies in the middle of East Jakarta's industrial park in Cikarang, on a 10-hectare plot originally intended for one of Sariayu's factories. 

But after the monetary crisis in the late 1990s, the owner chose to use the land to create a park featuring traditional Indonesian plants -- a project a long time in the making. 

"Many people can't believe we first started preparing this place in 1996," said Iqbal, the operational manager of KaDO. 

It took three years to convert the former industrial area into an arable plot of land and then plant the selected herbs and shrubs, he said. 

In mid-2000, KaDO was opened to the public. Of the 10 hectares, four are dedicated to therapeutic herbs, flowers and fishponds, displaying a wide range of genuine Indonesian herbs with medicinal properties. 

Among the park's visitors are families, school students and tourists, as well as those who are training in or otherwise studying medicinal plants. 

 

  Traditional herbal plants are marked throughout the village. (JP/Juliana Harsianti)
 

Visitors are given information about the herbs, postharvesting processes and the plants' uses injamu (herbal medicine) and cosmetics. They can also learn how to prepare popular jamu recipes such as kunyit asam (turmeric and tamarind), beras kencur (rice and galangal root) and cabe lempuyang (chili and wild ginger). 

When The Jakarta Post visited KaDO, families were leisurely strolling around the KaDO grounds. Children were running along the paths between the garden beds of medicinal plants. Others were looking at the herbs, reading out their names and asking guides about plants that sounded unfamiliar. 

"As you can see, the extensive green areas allow greater freedom for children to play," said Neni, a guide at the village. 

With such a vast -- and rare -- green area, KaDO also gives visitors the opportunity to grow and take care of their own plants and enjoy their harvests. 

"Many people like growing quick-yielding vegetables that require little maintenance. All the plants here are organically raised, which means they are safe for our health and the environment," Neni said. 

But the park has more than just plants. 

"We also raise domestic animals here such as cows and goats," Neni said. 

"Besides maintaining the ecosystem, they are a source of amusement for guests. A lot of city children have never seen cows or touched them, even though they may consume beef daily." 

Indeed, the cows roaming through the village were soon surrounded by children, who watched and patted the animals with curiosity. The cattle seemed only too happy to step into the spotlight and pose with the children for group photographs. 

"For those who prefer to visit for more than one day, we offer wooden houses as accommodation, which creates a rural atmosphere," Iqbal said. 

Facilities for physical fitness and beauty care are available for those who wish to do yoga or take make-up lessons. 

KaDO also seeks to attract corporate customers in Cikarang and Jakarta. 

"Instead of going to other cities further away, company employees can take breaks and vacations here, in office groups or with their peers," Iqbal added. 

And visitors do not go home empty handed -- KaDO gives away potted plants to be grown at home, such as Zodia, a natural mosquito repellent. And the best of it is these plants require no special care -- they can endure harsh conditions with minimum maintenance. 

"Apart from their use for greening up the environment, such plants are beneficial to us," Iqbal said.

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YOUTH BLOSSOMS

The Jakarta Post  | Thu, 12/25/2008 9:42 PM 
 

  Young women from Lelea near West Java's north coast mark their marriagability by participating in the annual Ngarot festival to mark the planting of new rice. Their headdresses are made from hundreds of flowers and weigh several kilograms. The community holds the festival to guarantee a good harvest in the coming season. (JP/Edith A. Johnson)

Bandung students learn from farmers in nature, cultural tour

Slamet Susanto & Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta, Wed, 04/13/2005 12:35 PM

Bandung International School students get hands-on experience at planting rice in a paddy

Plowing, growing rice and cooking with wood stoves are part of the daily routine for rural people. For students of Bandung International School (BIS), however, thesetasks are a rare, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This not surprising, because most of the 45 BIS students following the nature and cultural tourism program in Sendangsari village of Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta, are foreign nationals with accustomed to a modern lifestyle not the life of hardship and toil in rural Indonesia.

Bandung International School students get hands-on experience at planting rice in a paddy (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)

"Enough, enough!" yelled Sabina, who had been driving a cattle-pulled plow for less than five minutes. The student from Denmark was shouting for help as she tried to get down from the plow. She was apparently disgusted at the sight of the cow peeing and emptying its bowels right in front of her.

"It's all right, miss,natural manure, beneficial to plants," said the plow driver while helping Sabina to descend.

But Sabina expressed her pleasure at taking a leisurely walk around the village and observing the cultivation process while familiarizing herself with local farmers' traditions.

Forgetting the cow dung, Sabina joined her classmates to try her hand at planting rice. "It's quite interesting. I once saw this in Sukabumi (West Java)," she said. 

Tyler, a BIS student from Canada, looked at the muddy field intently, then plunged into the mire and gestured as though he was swimming.

"It feels like snow. The difference is that mud is warm and makes the body dirty," he remarked.

"Help me, help me.!" still another student cried as his legs slid down into the mud to his knees. Some of his friends came near but instead of helping, they jostled each other before finally falling together into the sludge, laughing.

Apart from learning local crop planting methods, the students were also introduced to rural community traditions, such as the use of the bedug, a big drum, as a means of communication to signal the start of a village meeting.

"In the city, residents keep their money at banks and can withdraw it any time through an ATM. Villagers save their money by raising cows," the students' guide explained. "Cattle constitute a form of savings for rural people and will be sold when they have urgent needs, just like in a bank transaction."

Greening and replanting various plants, as well as an introduction to different wildlife species of Indonesia in the Yogyakarta Wildlife Rescue Center (PPSJ), were also part of the BIS students' village tour program.

They were taught how to feed animals, take care of them and release them back into their natural habitat. The animals were originally confiscated by authorized government agencies and placed under the PPSJ's care.

Jonas, a BIS history teacher, said the stroll around the village was very conducive to building a close relationship between teachers and students. He said this helped teachers to better understand the students' needs to create the best method of teaching.

"Such close association and awareness of what students want contribute to their learning process," stressed Jonas, who has been in Bandung since 1998 and has two children with his wife, who is from the area.

Observing traditional activities, he added, made students conscious of what it really meant to struggle for life.

"So far, (the students) have lived in big cities and most of them come from established families, enjoying pleasant living conditions and never before knowing the toils of life," he pointed out.

The village experience will increase their knowledge in addition to the science subjects they learned in class.

"After graduation, I hope they will have a broader perspective," Jonas said.

The educational benefits of the village tour were deemed extremely valuable to the students' education that it has been made into a regular activity.

"This program is part of the school curriculum and is regularly carried out to broaden students' horizons," Jonas said.

Meanwhile, PPSJ director Sugi Hartono revealed that the wildlife center, in cooperation with relevant agencies and local communities, was promoting cultural tourism in rural areas.

As we are in the hilly region of Menoreh, we call our cultural and nature tourism zone Menoreh Green Land," he said.

A BIS students rides a traditional plow as a farmer assists the team. (JP/Tarko Sudiarno)

According to Hartono, Menoreh Green Land offers genuine rural tourism covering crop planting methods and local traditions. Visitors are also served typical foods that are unique to the area. The land's extensive hills and rapidly flowing rivers for rafting are also open to exploration in their natural conditions.

Since its founding in 2003, the PPSJ has accommodated 4,194 animals representing 54 species, of which 2,873 have been rehabilitated and released back to the wild. Among these animals are sea hawks (Haliatus leocogaster), pig-snout tortoises (Carettoscelis insculpta), bondol hawks (Haliastur Indus) and orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus).

Four hectares of the PPSJ's 14-ha area are reserved for wildlife conservation and the remainder for a variety of outbound games.

"We also aim to nurture a love of wildlife among students at an early age so that they will become a succeeding generation that cares for the ecosystem, rather than one that only exploits nature as is the case today," Hartono said.

He also hoped an increase in tourists to the area would help improve the community's welfare.

"Local people can make extra income from their food stalls, homestays and the sale of handicrafts as souvenirs," continued Hartono.

"Although not all villagers are aware of the importance of tourism, through dialogs on its direct economic benefits, we are sure they will come to fully support the effort," he said.

 

Local man leads mangrove tours in Jungut Batu

Irawaty Wardany, The Jakarta Post, Nusa Lembongan

Sukitra wasn't born a conservationist. It was a turn of events in his home village of Jungut Batu that transformed him into a leading figure of mangrove conservation.

"Several years ago, the villagers decided to open a large-scale salt farm on the beach near the village. In order to do so, we cleared the mangrove forest along the village's coast," he told The Jakarta Post last week.

It was a doomed enterprise. It turned out that salt farming was a grueling endeavor with a large window for failure. Moreover, the clearing of the mangroves made the village more vulnerable to natural disaster.

"The mangrove forest was a natural barrier. When it was gone, the sea water could easily reach our village and it did flood the village several times," he said.

Jungut Batu lies in the northern part of Nusa Lembongan, one of the three islands off Bali's southeastern coast. Nusa Lembongan is a favorite destination for visitors who yearn for a quiet hideaway with a fantastic beach.

The villagers abandoned salt farming and sought their fortunes in seaweed farming. They also replanted the mangrove forest.

"One day a French man came here and he was amazed to see how healthy and abundant the mangrove forest was," Sukitra said.

The foreign visitor later told Sukitra the mangrove forest had promise as a tourist attraction.

"I was so inspired by what he said that later I approached my fellow villagers and asked them to join me in establishing a group that would manage the mangrove forest as a tourist attraction," he said.

In 2000, Sukitra and 18 other villagers worked together and formed the group. It was later named the Mangrove Tour Group and Sukitra was elected its head.

"Each member provided one boat to the group. The boats would be used to take visitors on a tour across the forest," he said.

For a single trip of around 30 minutes, the group charges each visitor Rp 50,000 (US$5.40).

"We set aside Rp 5,000 for the village and Rp 2,000 for the group's fund and the remaining Rp 43,000 goes to the boat owners," he said.

The mangrove tour provides additional income to the group's members, who work mostly as seaweed farmers.

Sukitra said now the group had 33 members. Once a month, all the members participate in a clean-up activity to comb the forest looking for garbage.

Unfortunately, said Sukitra, the group had yet to receive proper support from village leaders.

"This group has yet to be officially acknowledged by the head of the village even though we have set aside a percentage of our income for the village," he said.

An outreach specialist of the Nature Conservancy, Marthen Welly, said he was impressed with the group's efforts.

"They are able to organize themselves in preserving this mangrove forest. All we have to do is to facilitate cooperation between the group and the village so that this place can be better promoted and developed," he said.

World Wetlands Day: Children learn about importance of mangrove wetlands

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Sindi was immersed in her drawing of a mangrove forest at Muara Angke Wildlife Reserve in Pantai Indah Kapuk, North Jakarta.

"I hope I win the (drawing) competition," said the 11-year-old girl, one of 11 participants in the event held Saturday by wetlands volunteer-based organization Jakarta Green Monster to commemorate World Wetlands Day.

She didn't win the drawing competition "Mangrove Forest is My Playground", but she learned wetlands protection had become more relevant these days after the flood that paralyzed much of Jakarta on Friday.

"I went through chaotic traffic and flooded roads to get here from Ragunan (South Jakarta)," Sindi said.

Dozens of schoolchildren gathered at the reserve to take part in competitions such as garbage recycling, writing features about wildlife reservation, various games and a Kali Angke river tour.

"Unfortunately, we had to cancel the storytelling event (because) the storyteller could not come due to the flood," organizing committee executive Tri Suci said.

She said it took the community about two months to prepare the day's events.

"We hope many people become aware of the importance of mangroves (in helping) prevent flooding in the city," Tri said.

The preserved forest was established during the Dutch colonial period in 1939 and upgraded to a wildlife reserve in 1999.

Although the area is the country's smallest reserve, the 25.02-hectare forest contributes a great deal to bird conservation in Java, according to a BirdLife International report in 2003.

The reserve is the last mangrove forest in the capital. It consists of Muara Angke Wildlife Reservation, a protected forest, and Angke Kapuk Natural Tourism Park.

Head of forest conservation at the Natural Resources Conservation Center, Daruri, said the reservation was important, particularly in dealing with floods.

With fewer and fewer such reserves in the city, millions of residents had to face floods each year, said Daruri.

He added that many resident also lacked information about the reserve, and that they could make use of such a place as an alternative tourism site.

"People who come to this place can learn a lot about the importance of mangroves to protect the sea from eroding the coastline, too."

Siti, a participant from SMP 167 junior high in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta, said she and five friends were interested in visiting the place and taking part in the event.

"We learned how to make bags, frames and belts from plastic garbage in just three hours," she said.

She said she loved visiting the reserve due to its cool air and many kinds of animals, like birds and monkeys.

"This is my second visit and I always look forward to coming here," she said. (ewd)

Sulawesi's Tomini Gulf 'badly in need of protection'

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Tomini Gulf is one of the biggest bays in Indonesia, bordering 13 regencies in the Gorontalo and Central Sulawesi provinces.

The bay hosts 56 islands -- called the Togean Islands -- which are spread over 90 kilometers at the center of Tomini gulf.

Among them are six big islands including Batulada, Talatakoh, Togean, Una-Una, Waleabahi and Waleakodi.

The others include beautiful, small islands surrounding the six larger ones and all are continually visited by European tourists.

Based on a biodiversity zone division, Tomini Gulf is located in the Wallacea zone -- which is historically separate from Asian and Australian continents.

The name Wallacea is after the English researcher Alfred Russel Wallace, who explored eastern Indonesia in 1854-1862.

The bay is famous for its underwater beauty and is perceived as a heaven for divers -- it's said to be a home to many coral reefs and various colorful species of fish.

Parigi Moutong Regent Longky Djanggola recently told The Jakarta Post that in 2003 former president Megawati Soekarnoputri declared Tomini Gulf the gate of "Mina Bahari".

Parigi said the gulf area was a mainstay for increasing state income, as well as for providing more jobs for local people.

The Sulawesi Regional Development Cooperation Office, or Badan Kerjasama Pembangunan Regional (BKPRS), reported however that some gulfs in Sulawesi, including Tomini Gulf, had been damaged by excessive development.

The damaged areas reported included coral reefs, mangrove forests and the banks of rivers that emptied into the Tomini Gulf.

The most obvious damage could be found in Togean Island National Park in Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, said the BKPRS.

Data from the provincial planning board indicated 8.7 percent of coral reefs, 4.6 percent of algae and 5.11 percent of mangrove forests had been damaged.

Tojo Una-Una Regent Damsik Ladjalani said the damage was caused by illegal fishing and local habits that included throwing garbage into the sea.

And he said this was despite efforts by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which has declared Tomini Gulf one of world's treasures in need of protection because it has valuable marine assets.

The Central Sulawesi administration reported the local sea produced about 330,000 tons of fish each year, of which 214,000 tons was processed annually.

Fishermen seek pelagis fish, tuna and oil (cakalang) fish, along with shrimp, seaweed, sea cucumbers and pearls.

Professionals learning to love Ragunan Zoo

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It has been 20 years since Rina visited Ragunan Zoo during a holiday with her family.

Her memories of the zoo were of dirt and discomfort. Like almost every other middle-class professional in the city, she as unlikely to include a trip to the zoo in her plans for the weekend, and toured the malls instead, she says.

But on Saturday, she was back there once again, on a company trip organized by her employer, Citibank.

"I thought it was dirty and not as comfortable as malls. I would have never come here if it wasn't for my work. But I've changed my mind now... it is quite clean," said Rina, adding that she'd consider returning again.

Her company, Citigroup's Citibank, organized a corporate social action day to clean the zoo. The company sent 1,500 employees to sweep the ground, paint benches, plant trees and bathe animals.

Rina was on the sweeping team, cleaning up dried leaves and garbage. Other employees got to bathe elephants and paint benches.

The activity was part of Citigroup's attempt to organize a global community day involving its employees around the world in environmental activities.

Ditta Amahorseya, the country vice president for corporate affairs, said Citigroup's Indonesian office chose Ragunan Zoo to introduce the zoo's functions to the employees.

"Many of them have never been here before. This is a chance for them to see that the zoo is not only a nice recreational area but also has played many roles in preserving the environment."

Zoo director Sri Mulyono said that the zoo mainly functioned as an animal conservation and research laboratory.

"Somehow, most people know it as recreational area only. However, it also functions as a city water catchment and green area," he said.

The 140-hectare zoo was established in 1964. It has some 3,500 animals and visitors can walk, cycle or take a horse and cart or train to get around.

It attracts some 300,000 visitors a month.

The number of visitors to the zoo lags behind that of an average shopping mall, which sees an average 1 million visitors a month. Among middle- and upper-class Jakartans, open space like public parks and the zoo have lost their popularity to mushrooming malls (lln).