Learning Through Observation of Wildlife Conservation at Mount Bibi, Mount Merapi National Park

Mount Merapi National Park is a nature conservation area which has a young volcano which is still very active. The mountain is nothing but the Mount Merapi. Mount Merapi eruption has an annual cycle in which the explosion occurred in a span of about 4 years. The eruption of Mount Merapi in 2010 was the biggest eruption in the history of the eruption of Mount Merapi. Damage caused by the eruption has devastated the landscape conditions around the area of ​​Mount Merapi. Not only the residential areas were devastated, but also other impacts of forest ecosystem balance is disrupted so that the diversity of species of flora and fauna has decreased.

However, events did not entirely eliminate the eruption of Mount Merapi beauty. One of the hidden natural beauty of Mount Merapi volcano is Bibi. Mount aunt is none other than the shape of the plateau of Mount Merapi. Administrative and management, Mount Bibi entered in Boyolali area and is one of the parts of the resort is Mount Merapi National Park Resort Musuk - Cepogo. Aunt mountain into the traditional use zones and wilderness zone in the National Park of Mount Merapi. Traditional use zones utilized by local communities as residential land, agricultural, and look for animal feed. While the jungle zone function as habitats of flora and fauna, the area under protection, as well as support (buffer zone) core zone. Activities done at this place is more enabled to inventory flora and fauna as well as educational. So, Gunung Bibi does not function as a natural tourist spot and climbing like in Pakem and Selo.

Aunt Mountain area is generally used as a place of research animals, such as birds and primates. Exploring the woods while learning to recognize types - types of animals is a useful outdoor activity. The benefit is to know the type - a rare species and their habitat to remain conserved. Mount Bibi still save endangered species such as Javan Eagle (Nisaetus bartelzi), Panther (Panthera pardus melas), Javan Leaf-monkey (Trachypitechus auratus), Barking Deer (Muntiacus muntjac), etc.. Threats to wildlife in fact continue to be disrupted due to the impact of human activities that are less responsible. Lots of wildlife has been classified as a critically endangered species so that if no protective measures it will become extinct in the future - the future. Why is wildlife important? Obviously, the wildlife as an important component of the forest ecosystem such as a constituent of the food chain, a very important role in the preservation and sustainability of natural forest ecosystems. Examples primates can act as a spreader (dispersal) seeds - seeds for genetic resources of a particular tree. Besides the forest also serves to keep the balance of the climate, as a source of water catchment and source diversity of genes in the earth that is certainly a very important role for humans.

Learn about wildlife on nature is an outdoor activity so we must prepare the purpose - sufficient for the purposes of conducting observations of these animals. Then, what needs to be prepared for observing animals in the wild?

1. Clothing

Bright colored clothes and flashy, would frighten animals. Wear clothing that dim colored and most important thing to remember is to use clothing to be comfortable, have a bag to place the record books, absorb sweat, collared, and easy to dry if it rains. Get used to using a long-sleeved clothing so as not bothered by insect bites or thorn scratched while in the field. Some additional equipment may be taken as an umbrella (rain coat) and a field cap.

2. Pocket note book, stationery and field guides

To start getting used to the observed record everything that we should begin to prepare booklets and pencils as well as the introduction of types of books available. Very important field notebook was taken during a observation field . Record various information required and if necessary describe traits - traits of animals observed. Remember do not rely on memory alone without taking notes. Some information important to note is the location of the observation; weather (sunny, cloudy); observation time; species observed (local name or scientific name), the number of individuals, and other information (behavior, habitat carrying capacity, as well as the conservation aspect). Also need to learn some techniques to track and determine the presence of animals in the wild, among others: the sound of animals, sounds and movement of the leaves or stems of trees noisy, marks - scars eat on the forest floor, and dirt.

3. Binoculars

Binoculars are essential attributes. Use a pair of binoculars with good quality, both in terms of strength and resolution. Binoculars types of binoculars is recommended for observing animals (birds and primates) with size 8x40 or 10x40.

4. Camera

The camera is an additional equipment if we have or can afford. Good camera is a camera with a telephoto lens to photograph objects in nature so that it can capture images remotely without scaring the animals.

5. Logistics

Equipment is essential to support the course of events. To bring it before the start of the observation supplies (food, beverages, and medications) to taste. Bring tools - tools like the EMS. Then when will doing wildlife observation activities in a long time to prepare equipment shelter. Tool - navigation and communication tools such as maps, compass, GPS, HT / mobile. Conditions dense forest and shrub-covered tracks - like a bush on Mount Bibi, making tool - the tool is very important to take it because it has the potential to make people get lost and do not know the way home. With the navigation and communication equipment will reduce the risk.

Although Mount Bibi not functioned as a place of nature tourism, but we are still able to visit with the educational purposes for example, wildlife observation and research. Because Mount Bibi entered into the conservation area, that we are obliged to take care of Log Conservation Permit in Mount Merapi National Park Authority before the visit. During our activities in nature, especially in conservation areas must comply with the regulations - regulations that have been made. Do not build a fire in the area because of the potential to cause forest fires. Take enough water and do not pollute the water sources. Bring trash down and watch to not throw trash in the woods. Do not make noise during activism because it will disturb and scare - mongering animals. In addition it is forbidden to destroy natural resources, not taking flora and fauna located in the area. During activities in the wild like this should not be alone. Invite a friend or ask the clerk for the park to accompany the activism that supports our security in the wild.

MAJOR THERATS TO FOREST ECOSYSTEM: Putting a Price Tag on Nature’s Ecological Services

Currently, forest and other ecosystems are valued mostly for their economic services. But suppose we took into account the monetary value of the ecological services provided by forest (Figure1). In 1997, a team of ecologist, economics, and geographers estimated the monetary worth of the earth’s ecological services and the biological income they provide. They estimate the later to be at least $ 33.2 trillion per year close to the economic value of all of the goods and services produced throughout the world. The amount of money required to provide such interest income and thus estimated value of the world’s natural capital (would have to be at least $ 500 trillion) an average of about $ 73,500 for each person on earth!

According to this study, the world’s forests provide us with ecological services worth at least $ 4.7 trillion per year (hundreds of times more than their economic value. And these are very conservative estimates. Some researcher team’s estimates for forest are shown in Figure 2. Note that the collective estimated value of these ecosystem services is much greater than the value of timber and other raw materials extracted from forests. These researchers hope their estimates will alert people to three important facts: the earth’s ecosystem services are essential for all humans and their economies; their economic value is huge; and they are an ongoing source of ecological income, as long as they are used sustainably.

 However, unless estimated values of these ecological services are included in the market prices of goods and services, through market tools such as regulation, taxes, and subsidies that encourage protection of biodiversity, the world’s forests and other ecosystems will continue to be degraded.

                So, how should we manage and sustain forests? We can sustain forest by emphasizing the economic value of their ecological services, removing government subsidies that hasten their destruction, protecting old-growth forests, harvesting trees no faster than they are replenished and planting trees.

Critical Thinking

Some analysts believe that we should not try to put economic values on the world’s irreplaceable ecological services because their value is infinite. Do you agree with this view? Explain. What is the alternative?

By: Ardi J

LOOK AROUND ABOUT COMMON TREE FROG

Polypedates leucomystax represents a complex of poorly known cryptic species. Until a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the Polypedates leucomystax complex is undertaken, we follow Orlov et al. (2001) in restricting Polypedates megacephalus to populations north of the Red River of Viet Nam, and we consider populations south of the Red River, including those western Yunnan (China) to refer to P. leucomystax (with the exception of a few recent records from northeastern India).It is a very adaptable opportunist and commensal, occurring from beach vegetation through all manner of human habitats (such as agricultural areas, ditches, artificial ponds and lakes, gardens, even in houses) and natural edge habitats to closed primary forest. It appears to be dependent on human activities to create suitable habitats. There might be separation among habitat axes among the component species in theleucomystax complex. It is not subjected to any significant degree of disturbance, which could threaten its survival. Presumably heavy application of pesticides around houses might pose threats to local subpopulations. It is sometimes found in the international pet trade but at levels that do not currently constitute a major threat. The main conservation issue is the cryptic diversity within the species complex as some of the hidden taxa might be of conservation concern, but reliable recognition needs to be established before conservation strategies can be formulated.

(www.iucnredlist.org)

Island Thrush of Mt. Merbabu

Merbabu a volcano with an altitude of 3,142 meters above sea level in the province of Central Java. Track a hill and has a view of exotic savanna. Merbabu National Park is an area which used as a tourist obejek and climbing. One of the most desirable is mountaineering. As the National Park of course this place has a variety of flora and fauna are interesting. Do you see the picture next to the bird? Call it Island Thrush  (Turdus poliochepalus javanicus), this bird is a bird worm family (Turdidae) which has a rounded body, slender beak, legs rather long, and agile. Indonesia has a range of race Island Thrush and one race that dapay javanicus found in almost all the mountains of central Java. Island Thrush I found this post in Savanna II hiking trail Merbabu Selo. This bird has a habitat in the mountains and can be found at an altitude of 900 sd 3000 m above sea level or more. This bird is not at all afraid of humans and looks tame when approached let alone be photographed. In places where the vegetation is grass, herbs, Vaccinium sp. , and Anaphalis longifolia which is a constituent of the flora of tropical highland rainforest.