Yeahh..after tired waiting and singing.. "menanti...di bawah pohon kamboja.." I got and idea about an adventure I always dream for. Adventure in Meru Betiri, one of 'hutan perawan' In the world. Ever heard bout it?
Meru Betiri is a national park in the province of East Java, Indonesia, extending over an area of 580 km² of which a small part is marine (8.45 km²).[2] The beaches of the park, is a habitat of the endangered Leatherback turtles, Hawksbill turtles, Green turtles, and Pacific Ridley turtles.
Meru Betiri National Park (TNMB), represents mangrove forest, swamp forest, and lowland rain forest ecosystems. Its geographically located in the 113058'38 "- 113058'30" BT and 8020'48 "- 8033'48" LS while administratively located in two district, Jember regency and Banyuwangi regency.
This Park is a natural habitat of the rafflesia flower (Rafflesia zollingeriana), and various other plants such as mangrove (Rhizophora sp.), api-api (Avicennia sp.), waru (Hibiscus tiliaceus), nyamplung (Calophyllum inophyllum), rengas (Gluta renghas), bungur (Lagerstroemia speciosa), pulai (Alstonia scholaris), bendo (Artocarpus elasticus), and several medicinal plants.
This Park is also home to several protected animals, including 29 species of mammal and 180 species of bird. Among them are the banteng (Bos javanicus javanicus), panther (Panthera pardus), wild pig (Sus scrofa), long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis), Asian wild dog (Cuon alpinus javanicus), red-tailed flying squirrel (Iomys horsfieldii), leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis javanensis), barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak muntjak), Timor deer (Cervus timorensis russa), green peafowl (Pavo muticus), leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), common green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and Pacific ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea). Its also know as as the last habitat of the Javan tiger (Panthera tigris sondaica) which is now a highly endangered and protected species. However, no traces of this tiger have been found for many years and it is feared to be extinct.
Some interesting locations to be visited in TNMB among other Rajegwesi Beach. At the beach, you can do nautical tourism, swimming, observation of plants or animals and cultural tourism (traditional fishermen). In the meadow Sumbersari, can be seen various animals such as sambar and deer. Sukamade beaches suitable for camping activities, wind surfing, and observation of flora and fauna, particularly the activities that are laying turtles. The forest exploration, nautical tourism, and swimming can be done in Green Bay.
Its really wildlife adventure, because in this area no/rarely permanent tourist resting places like hotel etc.
That was a few years ago. Now, Meru betiri is not hutan perawan anymore. Its also become victim of massive illegal logging on the back of lawlessness following the fall of Suharto in 1998. The national park’s management has been trying to restore the forest through rehabilitation and reforestation programs. Yet, instances of illegal logging and poaching are still evident today.
This year, Meru Betiri National Park has been chosen to host a pilot project for a tropical forest conservation plan as part of an initiative Reducing Emissions from Deforestation Degradation (REDD). The preparations including reforesting and replanting 58,000 hectares of barren fields inside protected forest areas. Indonesia, which has run a number of REDD pilot projects, was the first country to issue regulations REDD allowing indigenous groups, local authorities, private organizations as well as local and
foreign businesspeople to run REDD projects.
Hope Meru Betiri will be back to its purpose as National Park not place for illegal logging.Even like that Meru Betiri is worth to visit. I'll put it in the top list place must visit in my retire plan.
How to reach the Park: Surabaya-Jember-Ambulu, about 5 hours by car/bus (225 km); Ambulu-Curahnongko-Bandealit, about 3 hours, or Surabaya-Banyuwangi-Jajag, 6 hours (342 km); Jajag-Sarongan-Sukamade, 3 hours (60 km).
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