This Is It, The Result of IPB Students Expedition to Tobelo Dalam Tribe
Indonesia is a country that has a rich biodiversity. Even so, there is still a lot of unexplored biodiversity potentials. This is caused by the extensive area of Indonesia that is spread from Sabang to Merauke. Many of Indonesia biodiversity has not been properly recorded. Besides that, the potential that lies in inland Indonesia has not been able to be handled as it should be.
As a student that is actively involved in conservation and forestry eco-tourism, Student Association for Conservation of Forest Resources and Eco-Tourism, Faculty of Forestry, Bogor Agricultural University (Himakova Fahutan IPB), organized National Seminar of Indonesian Heritage 2018 in Andi Hakim Nasution Building, IPB Dramaga Campus, Bogor (20/10). This seminar was conducted to deliver the result of two expeditions that had been done by Himakova, which were Environment Conservation Study Expedition (Surili) 2018 and Expedition of Indonesia’s Flora, Fauna, and Eco-Tourism (Rafflesia) 2018.
Surili Expedition 2018 was an event that aimed to explore the biodiversity potential, eco-tourism potential, cave mapping, and sociocultural study of Indonesia’s local society. It was done in Aketajawe Lolobata National Park, North Maluku, from August 16th to September 1st 2018. This expedition in Bumi Halmahera was still strongly influenced by the culture of Tobelo Dalam Tribe.
Aketajawe Lolobata has two main areas that are separated into Aketajawe and Lolobata forestry group. Endemic animals that can be found in these areas are cekakak murung, mandar gendang, kepodang halmahera, bidadari halmahera, and yellow kuskus. The national park area is still inhabited by the indigenous tribe that lives nomadically and primitive. That tribe is Tobelo Dalam Tribe. The local wisdom is shown by the simple and nature-aligned life they have been living. Tobelo Dalam Tribe lives nomadically as a group without damaging the nature.
“The coexistence of biodiversity potential that is owned by Bumi Halmahera has not been explored maximally. Bumi Halmahera can be noticed by the existence of bidadari Halmahera in Aketajawe National Park and many other things. The interesting thing that is found in the life of the locals is the belief that a parrot is sacred for its ability to talk, resulting in the prohibition of its consumption,” said the Head of Surili Expedition 2018, Ramdani.
According to one of staffs from the Directorate of Biodiversity Conservation, General Directorate of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Dr. Ade Soeharso, S.Hut, M.Si, said that the database regarding the identification and inventory of biodiversity really helped the Ministry to conduct a data collection of biodiversity in Aketajawe National Park.
“There are still many false conceptions about conservation. So, there are many unexplored and underutilized potentials without even erasing the means of conservation itself,” said the professor of Fahutan IPB, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Yanto Santosa, DEA.
Meanwhile, Rafflesia Expedition 2018 was conducted in Ciletuh Palabuhanratu Geopark (GCP), Sukabumi, on January 16-26, 2018. This expedition’s purposes were to identify the biodiversity, richness, evenness, domination, and conservation status of various flora and fauna in GCP, Sukabumi. Many types of mammals, birds, herpetofauna, butterflies, and flora were recorded to be the reference for the management and protection of that flora and fauna. The study was not only focused on flora and fauna, but also on the sociocultural condition of the people, cave, and eco-tourism potential. (CN)
