Category Archives: Blog Post

29Jan/24

Indonesian Bird Watchers Gathering : diversified conservation added value of Javan gibbon habitat

By Arif Setiawan

bird friendly commodities, Durian in Mendolo

Mendolo is one of the villages that harbour unprotected gibbon population and habitat in central java. The last two years we working with the  youth farmers association (PPM Mendolo) to enhance protection of wildlife and habitat in surrounding the village. Birds become more enthusiastic where they have great fans and crazy birders. This reason we encourage to promote bird watching and bird photography as one of the nature tourism attractions that corresponds to the habitat protection that will secure gibbon populations.

The PPM Mendolo in collaboration with Swaraowa  just finished organizing national gathering for Indonesia birdwatchers. The event was held on January 19-21 2024, with two main event i.e symposium on first day  attended about 90 participants and guest speakers who talk about illegal bird trade and conservation captive breeding on some critically endangered species of Java, then next two days the activities were conducted in Mendolo villages. All participants are stayed and enjoy birds in Mendolo village-forest.

In this event we promotes Mendolo as alternative nature special tourism interest for wildlife enthusiast and promoting durian as agro-forest commodities as well. Durian trees that cultivated since long time ago, has provide special habitat for the birds and other wildlife including all Javanese primates.  This kind of habitat that could be potentially to help farmers with commodities and protecting animals through nature observation as well.

The arrival of guests with the specific aim of seeing wild birds became a special motivation for the residents, because not many people knew about their village and many of the birds were initially caught and kept, but apparently there were people who were interested in enjoying them in the wild.

Combining wildlife and commodities as nature potency for the village asset could be solutions for protection of gibbons in this area, where people get economic benefits through their agro-forest farming that provide wildlife corridors among fragmented habitats. This approach will continue to be developed in this region considering the biodiversity that still exists as a representative of lowland forests in the central part of Java Island.

Read here,  swaraowa’s team report on the 11th Gathering of Indonesian Birdwatchers in Mendolo.

 

27Dec/23

Biodiversity Monitoring: Collaborative Forum for Petungkriyono Forest Management

by : Kurnia Ahmaddin

placement hunting prohibition signboard

One of the activities in order to strengthen the protection of the Petungkriyono forest area, through a collaborative management scheme, is this biodiversity monitoring activity which has been carried out throughout 2023. This activity involves related management parties, related agencies and representatives of local community in the Petungkriyono District area. (read the previous report here) .This Collaborative Forum is a mandate from the Decree of the Governor of Central Java for the management of essential ecosystem areas in Petungkriyono. Even though the KEE proposal seems to have changed its legal basis, swarowa takes an important role in continuing to activate existing collaboration forums to strengthen protection and  to build active communication with other forum members.

placement of pasive voice recorder for javan gibbon monitoring

Biodiversity monitoring activities are carried out by surveying forest routes and inviting related parties to jointly carry out surveys and forest patrols. This activity aims not only to increase capacity but also to inventory biodiversity using camera traps and passive recording devices

The monitoring team consists of BKSDA, Perhutani and Kayupuring village residents, supported by a technical team and equipment provided by swaraowa. This activity is carried out every month for four consecutive days. Monitoring of Javan Gibbons was carried out using the vocal-count triangulation method, by placing 3 groups of observers at three different points in the Sokokembang forest.

Monitoring results during 2023 are presented in the following table:

Description: IUCN Redlist status (NT=near threatened; VU=Vulnerable; EN=Endangered; CR=Critically Endangered.

The installation of hunting prohibition signs is also carried out as part of several locations where there are still risks of animal poaching, especially birds, but patrol activities are for forest security. According to the swaraowa team’s monitoring, this area still needs to be improved because at certain times hunting activities are carried out at night.

Mapping the location of encounters with animals, especially mammals, uses GPS and is mapped on the following Google Maps map.

18Dec/23

Integration of bees in food gardens: Women Beekeeper Program in Mendolo Village

By : Sidiq Harjanto

The women of Sawahan Mendolo village learn together to cultivate stingless bee

Strengthening the role of women in every aspect of development needs to continue to be encouraged. Likewise in the field of environmental conservation. The involvement of women, based on many experiences in many countries, has been proven to increase the level of success of nature conservation efforts. In today’s discourse on gender and nature conservation, what is known as Eco-feminism has emerged which places women, with their feminine values, as the main axis of the movement. Unfortunately, this movement is still not very popular. On a community scale, a short-term strategy that can be taken is to encourage women’s involvement in a structured and organized manner. For example, you can start by providing space for existence in fields that are gender-identical to women, such as culinary, finance and family nutrition. Furthermore, a more radical transformation is needed with more dominant roles for women.

Also mainstreaming efforts to strengthen the role of women in conservation and sustainable management of natural resources, Swaraowa supported by Mandai Nature , Ostrava zoo and Fortwayne Children’s Zoo facilitates the women’s community in Mendolo Village to develop productive activities. One of our priority programs is bee cultivation which is integrated with food gardens.

bee hive boxes Tetragonula laeviceps a species of stingless bee

Stingless bee pollinate chili plants

This activity was initiated approximately a year ago. This year, an initiative emerged to create a collective food garden. In this garden, various food plants are planted, especially local plant species. The main function of this food garden is as a place to collect local food plants and as an educational medium for anyone.

On November 25 2023 we will again hold a workshop on cultivating beekeeping for women. Apart from deepening technical cultivation skills, this workshop also aims to achieve an understanding of the added value in the integration of food gardens with bee cultivation.

Brayan Urip Garden, collective community works in Sawahan, that combine beekeping and vegetable garden

Stingless bee cultivation for Mendolo women is intended for several purposes:

First, bee cultivation as an alternative source of income. Honey is an economically valuable product produced by bees and its marketing is relatively easy. sustainable income will reduce human pressure on forest habitat, that important for all endangered wildlife such as javan gibbons.

Second, produce honey as additional nutrition for the family. Not only is honey a commodity with economic value, it is an excellent nutrient for improving the nutritional quality of farming families.

Third, optimizing the role of bees as pollinating agents. As mentioned above, the cultivation of stingless bee by women in Sawahan hamlet is combined with food crops, some of which are greatly helped by bee pollination.

Fourth, Stinglessbee  as an educational medium. Klanceng bees provide a lot of inspiration in terms of organization or division of labor, leadership, and resource management. Mothers can use  bees as an educational medium for their sons and daughters.

Bees kept around agricultural areas provide benefits in the form of pollination services. Meanwhile, on the other hand, various types of plants provide food for bees in the form of nectar and pollen. Of course, combining bees and vegetable gardens requires an agricultural model that is free of chemicals that can kill bees.

this article translated from original blogpost in bahasa :https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2023/12/integrasi-lebah-dalam-kebun-pangan.html

15Dec/23

Story from the field : Rekrekan (Presbytis fredericae) in Petungkriyono forest

by : Arrayaana Artaka

Rekrekan ( Presbytis fredericae)

Hello world, I am Arra, a student from the Faculty of Forestry at the Malang Agricultural Institute, a small campus that many people may not know about. As a final year student, it is mandatory to complete a thesis. Luckily, I received a scholarship from SwaraOwa which was aimed at research with the title “Spatial Modeling of the Habitat Suitability of Rekrekan (Presbytis comata fredericae, Sody 1930) Using MaxEnt Analysis in the Petungkriyono Forest, KPH East Pekalongan”.

Rekrekan is the local name for  leaf eating monkey  Presbytis fredericae, monkeys belongs to colobine family,  endemic to Java, their natural distribution range in the central to western part of Java, in West Java it is known as surili. So regarding my research, “Modeling” is the process of creating a model or simple representation of a complex object or system. Modeling is used to understand and predict how a system works, and can assist in the development of new systems or improvements to existing systems. In the context of habitat modeling or habitat suitability, modeling is used to map the distribution of wildlife habitats, in my research the endemic Rekrekan was the object of my research.

So the aim of this research is to determine the suitability of the Rekrekan’s habitat and the variables that influence the prediction of the presence  in the Forest.  In simpler terms, habitat modeling is a way to predict where animals live and how they use their environment. Scientists use habitat modeling to understand how different species interact with their environment and how they might respond to changes in their habitat.

Since the title come out, a new adventure in my life has begun. For someone who has difficulty communicating with new people like me, this is a big challenge, especially as I, who can be said to be spoiled, this time have to do it myself, starting from preparing and sending proposals to the relevant agencies, to going through various roads based on GoogleMaps guidelines, less more than 425 Km or 13 hours of travel on my Beat “Pokoloko” motorbike.

Long  short story, my research was carried out for approximately 3 weeks, starting on April 8 2023, coinciding with the second week of fasting, then going home on April 15 2023 and returning again on May 7-20 2023. There are two types of data available, data on the presence of Rekrekan and environmental variable data . Data on the Rekrekan encounter was carried out by direct survey using the transect method to record the coordinates of each Rekrekan encounter. There are 8 routes used in this research, with each observation route 2 km long. Each group of Rekrekans that are encountered will be observed, then the time the Rekrekans were seen, the distance between the researcher and the Rekrekans, the coordinates of the encounter, the number of individuals and the type of habitat will be recorded.

1) Rekrekan Encounter (2) Primary forest (3). Primary forest near the river (4) Primary forest near the road (5) Rerekan food scars, young leaves of Bendo (Artocarpus elasticus) (6) Resting activity on the Mbulu so tree (Ficus depressa)

Based on the results of observations, 25 distribution points were obtained for the Rekrekan group with a total number of 80 individuals. The number of individuals in the group ranged from 2 to 7 individuals, some even observed only 1 individual (alone). The encounters of the Rekrekan group were found to be spread across primary, secondary and plantation forest types. In secondary forests, Rekrekan is often seen on roadsides or plantation borders, while in plantation forests it is often seen in pine plantation forest, albizia garden and durian agro-forests. The largest number of Rekrek encounters were found along the road, there are 5 encounter points with a total of 17 encounters. This is because the path along the road is easily accessible to observers, and there are many trees that serve as food for Rekrekan.

The distribution pattern of Rekrekan is influenced by the availability of food sources, the need for water sources and disturbance factors. The Rekrekan is a Folivorous animal that tends to like leaves, so that during observations, the Rekrekan group was found in several types of vegetation which are its natural food, namely: African wood (Meisopsis eminii), Beunying (Ficus fistulosa), Saninten (Castanopsis tungeureut), Mbulu krandang ( Ficus drupacea), Klepu (Nauclea orientalis), Bendo (Artocarpus elasticus), Dao (Drakontomelon dao) Hantap (Sterculia oblongata) Kesowo (Engelhardia serrata) and Gorang (Trevesia sundaica).

Meanwhile, collecting and processing data on environmental variables is done by creating a map that represents the character of the Rekrekan habitat. The variables chosen are elevation, slope, vegetation and  earth surface temperature. The information uses DEMNAS 64 bit with a resolution of 5-8 m, and Landsat-8 TM image data. These data were combined with Rekrekan  encounter data which was analyzed using the arcGis application.

Map of the results of modeling the suitability of the Rekrekan habitat in the Petungkriyono forest

In this study, the suitability of the Rekrekan habitat was classified into three classes,  high suitability, medium suitability and low suitability. According to the results of MaxEnt’s analysis, it was found that Rekrekan is spread across the Petungkriyono Forest. Based on the results of MaxEnt’s analysis, the suitability class of the Rekrekan habitat in Petungkriyono Forest, East Pekalongan KPH, covering an area of ​​2,658 ha (46%) is in the low category, covering an area of ​​1,562 ha (27%) is in the medium category and covering an area of ​​1,554 ha (26%) is in the high suitability category.

With this research, I hope that Rekrekan, in Petungkriyono Forest and its ecosystem will remain sustainable. This research also resulted in a delineation of areas deemed suitable for Rekrekan. With this delineation, it can be a consideration for managers to protect and secure the location, so that the management of the Rekrekan’s habitat can be carried out effectively and efficiently. The existence of delineation can also help the Petungkriyono Forest area managers in conducting surveys and monitoring of Rekrekan so that the number of wild  populations can be known well as well as efforts to increase the population.

Finally, I would like to thank SwaraOwa for support during my field works research. May all living creatures be happy on their own crazy adventures. To read the complete results of my research, you can download them here.

 

Salam lestari !

translated from original article in bahasa https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2023/12/rekrekan-di-hutan-petungkriyono.html

 

09Dec/23

the 10th Swaraowa Gibbon Field Course – MSP X 2023

On 22-26 November 2023, the 10th   in 2023 Primate Survey Method (MSP)  Training series known as Swaraowa’s gibbon field course was held, located at swaraowa’s field station,  in Sokokembang Forest, Petungkriyono district, of  Pekalongan Regency, Central Java.  MSP is an annual activity organized by Swaraowa in collaboration with the Primate study Group at Gadjah Mada University, and this year  national level participation representation of the presence of 9 species of gibbons in Indonesia,  Kalimantan regions, Sumatera regions, and Java, we selected from various NGO, Universities, and forestry government staff.

a Technical Meeting with participants  was held on November 19 2023 by zoom. On November 21 2023, participants departed simultaneously from their respective regions . In the evening , participants and activity committee members introduced themselves one by one while sharing stories about gibbons from their respective regions as well as conservation activities to preserve gibbons or other primates.

Salmah Widyastuti, introducing vocal count-triangulation methods for gibbon survey

The next morning,  23 November, officially started by the chairman swaraowa Arif Setiawan who introduce swaraowa and it’s conservation project in Pekalongan since 2012, and introducing history of MSP that first conducted in 2013 until MSP 2022 there are 180 alumni, some of them are now have been working as gibbons researchers, and in the primate or conservation related job

The 2023 MSP invited totally 21 participants nationally, selected based on recommendation by their lecturer for students, by director or senior officer for NGO staff and govt officials. From Sumatera : Sekolah tinggi ilmu kehutanan Pantekulu Aceh, YOSL-Orangutan information Center North Sumatera, Zoologi Museum Andalas University West Sumatera, Hutan Harapan -PT. Restorasi Ekosistem Indonesia-Jambi, Riau University,  Indo Global Mandiri University Palembang South Sumatera, and Malinggai Uma Mentawai, from Kalimantan : Ecositrop, Pustaka Tropis, Mulawarman University, Palangkaraya University, Fauna Flora International-West Kalimantan Project, from Java : Baraya Sanggabuana-Sanggabuana Wildlife Ranger, Biodiversity Society, Biolaska-Islamic university Yogyakarta, BKSDA (Central Java Nature Conservation Agency), Primate Study Group-Gadjah Mada University-Yogyakarta.

Nur Aoliya, give a talk on bioacoustic research on Javan gibbon

Fisrt talk an introduction to the gibbon population survey using the vocal count triangulation method  Dieng landscape, delivered by Salmah Widyastuti,  from IPB University who has just completed her doctoral promotion session. The vocal count triangulation method is  classic methods to calculate the density of the gibbons.

After a lunch break,  second talk on bio-acoustics and sound recognition of Javan gibbons, presented by Nur Aoliya, she is Swaraowa researcher who is currently studying for a master’s degree at IPB University with a thesis discussing the same topic, namely bioacoustics of Javan gibbons. These topic is relatively new for all participants.

field practice data collection on Listening Post, Ms, Yan Lu from china also joined in the field

placement pasive voice recorder for gibbon monitoring survey

In the evening, the participants who had been divided into three groups were gathered again to listen to the final lecture of the day about collecting voice data using the SM4 passive voice recorder which will be put into practice the next day by Kurnia Ahmaddin, biodiversity assistant of  Swaraowa. Data analysis on the presence of Javan gibbons was carried out using the great call sound from female Javan gibbons using the Raven Pro software.

Yan Lu- Cloud Mountain Conservation Foundation China, give her talk on Black Crested Gibbon and conservation in China

On the scond day, as an implementation of the previous day’s teaching, field activities were carried out which were divided into 3 Listening Posts (LP). to reach LPs we  starts simultaneously at 06.30 a.m to 10.00 a.m and pasive voice recorder SM4 is installed in the same time records in the same time periode with manual listening activities. The day’s activities continued with population data analysis using Google Maps Pro from the vocal count triangulation method, to map gibbon distribution by its calls.

In the evening, MSP guest lecture who invited from China, give a talk, Ms Yan Lu, co-founder Cloud Mountain Conservation Foundation and vice chair of IUCN SSA, she and her colleagues work on  Black-crested Gibbon (Nomascus hainanus), share her experience on gibbon conservation status in China and more detail on how’s her NGO working with local community to save Black-crested Gibbon.

doplak ride for primate watching

(video by Zhao Chao, Javan gibbon feeds on insect)

On the third day, all participants that have divided in three groups, doing same procedure data collection as previous days, started at 6.30 till 10.00 at LPs, records all gibbons vocalization that being heard. Participants guided by swaraowa’s team who have been conducted this methods since 2012 for gibbon survey in central java. At the end of time all team back to the field station remove all pasive voice recorders. Back at field station participants conducted data analysis based on two days data collection at LPs and basic analysis of vocalization which recorded at pasive voice recorder using raven software. Participants also write all these reports and prepare presentation talk that will be presented at the end of the session training.

participants visit beekeping (Apis cerana) learning center in the village

The fourth day, in the morning with all participants we conducted primate watching, to see all four primates in Sokokembang forest closely. Pick up truck, called Doplak was used to ride and standing observe primates along the road of sokokembang forest. Road in Sokokembang forest is the best way to spot all four primates species, they are semi habituated due to human, because this main road to Petungkriyono district, and people have already aware about these primates are protected. In less then two hours all four primates are spotted. Including gibbon morning calls and Javan surili who make loud alarm calls. Participants learn about four difference characters of primates in Sokokembang and free discussion among of them during priamate watching. During primate watching our colleague from China who join with us, spotted gibbon feed on insect, a very rare moment that gibbon usually eats more fruits.

project report and presentation among participants

classroom photo group with course tutor and guest lecturer

all participants photo group

After we did primate watching, all participants were visited one of swaraowa’s community beekeeping program, in Setipis village. In this village participants learn about how beekeeping helps community, pollinate crops and honey production. Beekeeping learning center was build collaborate with beekeeper  to promote beekeeping and conservation in the gibbon habitat.

And the last session for all participants is presentation talk, every group presenting their findings and result during research simulation to estimate gibbon population in Sokokembang forest. Closing for the MSP 2023, is durian party, king of fruits harvested freshly from agro-forest surrounding.

on behalf of swaraowa, we would like to thanks Fortwayne Children’s Zoo, Arcus Foundation, Ostrava Zoo and Chance for Nature, for all support to fund this training course, thank you to Perhutani KPH Pekalongan Timur and Govt of Pekalongan Regency and MSP2023 commitee, KP3 Primata and many people directly involved.

written by : Arif Setiawan, for article in bahasa read in blog https://swaraowa.blogspot.com

 

 

15Nov/23

Story from the field : Javan lutung in Sokokembang forest

Javan lutung ( Trachyipithecus auratus)

By : Intan Rachmadanti Al-Huda

I am students of forestry, University of sebelas maret Surakarta, I received swaraowa’s scholarship program to conduct research on Javan lutung. Here  I wrote my story from the field during my study. Field work observations were conducted from May to June 2023, we observed the population and distribution of Javan lutung in the Sokokembang forest, Petungkriyono, Pekalongan.

Javan lutung (Trachypithecus auratus) is an endemic animal to the islands of Java and Bali whose population has decreased in the last 36 years. Javan lutung  are protected primates listed in Indonesia law. Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List 2021, the lutung  is included in the Vulnerable. Meanwhile, according to CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), the lutung is included in the Appendix II category. We made observations in the morning and evening during the active hours of the lutung. During our observations, we observed 11 groups  with a total of approximately 100 individuals spread across the Sokokembang forest.

Javan lutung with her baby

Not only the lutung, we also found other species during our observations. Rekrekan , the leaf eating monkey (Presbytis fredericae), Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch), and long-tailed mocaque (Macaca fascicularis) are primates other that we found in the Sokokembang forest. Apart from primates, there are also several other wildlife such as the Javan hawk eagle (Nisaetus bartelsi), wreathed hornbill (Rycticeros undulatus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), and deer (Muntiacus muntjak). While observing the Javan lutung, we also found footprints of a mammal which is thought to be a Javan leopard (Panthera pardus melas).

Each group of lutung generally consists of adults, juveniles and infants. Newly born  have orange hairs which is very different from adult  which have black hair. At the time of observation, there were several individual orange babies that were in their mother’s arms. Apart from that, there were also young individuals that had changed color to black which were also observed with their mothers. In this observation, it was discovered that the number of adult individuals dominated the age structure of Javan lutung in the Sokokembang forest.

grooming on the branch

Javan lutung groups are uni-group (one male and multi female), that is, there is only one adult male individual who dominates and has the responsible of being the group leader who must supervise, protect and ensure that the group members are safe. Therefore, the Javan lutung is a polygamous primates because the number of females is greater than the number of males in one group. Based on our observations, Javan lutung in the Sokokembang forest consist of 3 to 23 individuals in each group. This happens because of differences in the regeneration abilities of each individual and the presence of different predators in each Javan lutung range in the Sokokembang forest. Javan langur is an arboreal primate that spends almost its entire life active in trees. Starting from eating activities to resting activities are also carried out on trees. We also observed Javanese langurs carrying out grooming activities on trees. Grooming is the activity of looking for and removing dirt or parasites from the surface of the skin and hair.

 

15Oct/23

Gibbon goes to school: conservation education activity for school children around the gibbon habitat

by : Kurnia Ahmaddin

camping and introduction about wildlife conservation to students

The swaraowa team has carried out a series of visits to schools and villages around the gibbon habitat, during the period from May to October 2023 :

Senior High School ( SMA 1 Ma’arif Doro)

On May 30 2023, swaraowa visited SMA 1 Ma’arif, in Doro District, together with the supervising teacher and approximately 50 students, we introduced primates and other wildlife, especially wild birds, in the Sokokembang forest, which is only approximately 25 km from this school. This activity is packaged in a classroom atmosphere and field practice for observing bird species around the school.

introducing wildlife watching to kids

Children at  Sokokembang village

On August 27 2023, SwaraOwa together with postgraduate Biology students at Gadjah Mada University held an exploration activity entitled “Learning closer to nature”. This activity is aimed at elementary school students in Sokokembang Hamlet, Kayupuring Village, Sokokembang, Petungkriyono. The aim of this activity is to increase children’s awareness of the forest and the surrounding environment. There are three main objects for exploration, namely birds, butterflies and dragonflies.

The complete report on this activity can be read here: https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2023/09/school-eksplorasi-ke-1.html

group photo with students participants SMA 1 Batang

Senior High School ( SMA 1 Batang)

On September 30 and October 1, the swaraOwa team carried out conservation education activities for the nature lover group Gasmapala senior high school SMA 1 Batang. Located in Welo Asri, Kayupuring village there are 33 students accompanied by 4 teachers. The aim of this activity is to introduce wild animals and provide the basics of techniques for observing wild animals, especially primates and birds.

The event on the first day included class presentations and discussions, then students became increasingly curious about the wildlife in the Petungkriyono forest. Responding to students’ curiosity, on the second day from 7.30 to 11.00, we and the students observed wildlife around Welo Asri. We divided the team into 4, with the help of Welo Asri’s friends, we accompanied them while conducting observations in the field. At the end of the session, as usual, students are given assignments to present to each group. The results of the students’ presentations were quite good in explaining the physical characteristics of the animals they encountered, starting from the Javan Langur (Trachypithecus auratus) and several types of birds, namely Pelangi Pentis (Prionochilus percussus), Fire-flowered Chili (Dicaeum trigonostigma) and Kutilang Cucak (Pycnonotus aurigaster). Finally, suggestions from SMA 1 Batang teachers are that they hope that every semester there will be joint activities with Swaraowa.

This school visit activity is not only intended to disseminate conservation messages to school-age children, but also serves as a means of increasing the team’s capacity and increasing experience in communicating conservation activities to school children. Our team also involves local residents who usually take part in research or monitoring activities, they become direct companions for the children, most of whom are also their neighbors. reducing the feelings  of shy among kidswho are usually not to brave to interact directly with people they don’t know, for the team of local residents at least this motivates them to do something for the village and the people closest to them in the school environment.

 

19Sep/23

swaraOwa at World Primate Congress and Symposium 2023

by : Arif Setiawan

a sharing session on a roundtable discussion

August 19-24 2023, will be a historic moment for swaraowa, gathering with the global primate and conservation community to update knowledge about primatology and conservation, build networks, share experiences and discussions related to primate research and conservation activities at primate congresses and symposiums 19th world. Taking place at the Borneo Convention Center Kuching (BCCK), Sarawak Malaysia, this event was managed by the International Primatological Society and the Malaysian Primatological Society, according to the committee report there were 500 people attending from 60 countries. The theme of this congress and symposium is “Primates and People: a new horizon”

Aoliya’s Talk on 10 years of sokokembang primate field course

Swaraowa, sent 3 delegates to this event, me, Nur Aoliya and Sidiq Harjanto. This congress is the 6th time for me, and the first time for Aoliya and Sidiq. According to the committee in its report, there were around 600 abstracts (oral presentations and posters) and there were approximately 500 people from 60 countries who attended. This is a biennial meeting of researchers and primatologists from all over the world. The concept of the event is divided into a symposium and discussion roundtable, for 5 days participants are free to choose which symposium and discussion roundtable they are interested in and this meeting forum also gives us the opportunity to meet researchers, donors, primate conservation activists from all over the world, to get to know each other and network.

Sidiq’s Talk on beekeeping for Javan gibbon conservation

On the first day of my presentation, I presented the activities in Mentawai that we have been carrying out with Malinggai Uma Mentawai, for training teachers and using Quartet game cards as an educational medium. The Quartet game cards that we brought also received appreciation in the auction for primate conservation, a silent auction organized by the committee.

On August 21, 2023, I led a roundtable discussion entitled “Sustainable business models that drive primate conservation: Success stories from around the world” with the concept of intensive presentations and discussions, this roundtable received the attention of approximately 45 people, from various countries, with presenting key speakers from Peru, Singapore and Indonesia. Sidiq Harjanto from the swaraowa team also joined the roundatable discussion this time with a presentation about bee keeping activities for Javan Gibbon conservation.

In the afternoon of August 21 2023, the second presentation, in the gibbon symposium organized by the IUCN Section on Small Apes, was still about the activity program in Mentawai entilted with Siripok Bilou” grass root initiative for Mentawai Kloss’s gibbon.

Nur Aoliya, representing swaraowa, presented training activities on primate survey methods carried out since 2013, joining in a discussion roundtable with the theme Capacity building programs for habitat country primatologists: Gaps, challenges, and successes

This congress and symposium event provided an opportunity for the swaraowa team to be more confident in interacting in the global community, introducing swaraowa activities that have been carried out to conserve Indonesian primates, especially gibbon species.

10Aug/23

“A Decade of Javan Gibbon in the landscape of the Dieng Mountains, Central Java, Indonesia”

 

Javan gibbon ( Hylobates moloch)

Press release

“A Decade of Javan Gibbon in the landscape of the Dieng Mountains, Central Java, Indonesia”

Yogyakarta, August 10 2023. The Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) as the only ape on the island of Java, can be said to be a global identity, because our country Indonesia is also known for the existence of endemic species such as gibbons which cannot be found naturally in other countries. Its population size and natural habitat remain important for Indonesia.

The population and distribution of gibbons on the island of Java are only found in West Java and Central Java. In Central Java, there are currently two large populations, namely on Mount Slamet and forest complex  areas that span across several regions (Kendal, Batang, Wonosobo, Banjarnegara and Pekalongan), which is hereinafter referred to as the Dieng mountain landscape.

In 2012 Setiawan, et al, (https://smujo.id/biodiv/article/view/208) conducted research on the population and distribution of gibbons in Central Java. The line transect observation method was used in this study, and the current estimation results are approximately 881 individuals in the Dieng mountain landscape and 175 individuals in Mt. Slamet . The results of this study later became the basis for a series of activities for the SWARAOWA in Central Java. After this research, SWARAOWA focused on conservation activities in one of the locations mentioned in the study which had the highest density and threat in the Sokokembang forest, Petungkriyono District, Pekalongan Regency. It is from the Sokokembang forest that gibbon conservation activities in the Dieng Landscape are currently being developed, through the Coffee and Primate Conservation Project.

In 2023, after a decade, how’s the gibbon population in Central Java, especially in this Dieng landscape?

Salmah Widyastuti, with colleagues then led research in 2021-2022 to update information regarding the population and distribution of the Javan gibbon in the Dieng landscape and has been published at https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/100805/. By using survey techniques based on gibbon vocalization(vocal counting triangulation) as well as habitat suitability analysis, the results of the study estimate the population after a decade there are 1092 individuals in the Dieng mountain landscape. This means that there is a population increase of 23% compared to 10 years ago. This population increase may indicate the success of conservation efforts from many parties in the Dieng landscape. However, more efforts and collaboration must be put in place to ensure the long term future of the gibbons in the central part of Java Island.

SWARAOWA

Arif Setiawan – Project Director for Coffee and Primate Conservation, email : [email protected]

14Jul/23

SwaraOwa: Building global cooperation for gibbon conservation

written by Arif Setiawan

Hainan, 7-9 July 2023, swaraowa made history at the international level by joining the conservation alliance for gibbon species, called the Global Gibbon Network (GGN). The background for  this collaboration is due to the existence of 20 species of gibbons in the world, as one of the important elements in tropical Asia, spread across 11 Asian endemic countries, where the existence of gibbons in their natural habitat is very important because it is also a center of biodiversity that continues to experience threats. Gibbons are very unique, with the behavior and characteristics of the habitat they use, they have strong family ties. Unfortunately since the 1900’s distribution and population have declined drastically, with populations remaining small in all of Asia’s tropical forests.
Indonesia is the largest country in terms of the number of gibbon species, 45% of the world’s gibbons (9 species) are in Indonesia, and some of them are protected in conservation areas but there are still many other parts of their habitat that are not fully protected outside conservation areas, even 2 species of gibbons in Indonesia are West Kalimantan  Hylobates abbotti and Hylobates funnerreus in North Kalimantan have not been included in the list of protected species by Indonesia regulation. Threats continue to occur due to loss of forest habitat and trade.

The Global Gibbon Network was first initiated in 2020 (during the pandemic) and was organized by two institutions in China through Ecofoundation Global and the Hainan Institute of National Park. The next series of meetings were carried out online and officially invited other institutions in the gibbon habitat to join together as founding partners and announced at the World Gibbon Day event on 24 October 2022, together with the IUCN Section on Small Ape. Swaraowa’s participation in this is due to the similarity of vision and mission in conserving gibbons.

The meeting on 7-9 July 2023 was the first offline meeting held by GGN as an organization with its founding partners. This event was sponsored by Eco Foundation Global and Hainan institute of National Park which officially invited representatives of the founding partners to Haikou, Hainan Island. Hainan Island was also chosen because it is the habitat of the world’s rarest gibbon Hainan Gibbon (Nomascus hainanus) whose current population is only 37 individuals.
Taking place at the Pullman Hotel Haikou, the provincial capital of Hainan, nearly 120 experts, researchers and gibbon conservation activists from ten countries and regions as well as representatives from fifteen international organizations and foundations as founding partners of GGN gathered to discuss establishing a long-term conservation mechanism for gibbons.

I represent SwaraOwa as Indonesia based gibbon conservation organization,  in this meeting as one of the keynote speakers conveying the experience of swaraowa activities for Owajawa (Hylobates moloch) in Pekalongan through an entrepreneur and conservation approach that has been carried out by swaraowa for approximately 10 years, as an example of sustainable conservation initiatives to increase the added economic value of products forest products around the gibbon habitat, with the involvement of local communities and at the same time for the protection of gibbon habitat outside the conservation area. The Owa Coffee project, which was developed from the grassroots level to the global market, is an example of an independent funding scheme for gibbon conservation in Central Java. In addition, I also convey the activities of the Indonesian gibbon working group which is compiling a road map for the conservation of 9 speciees  of gibbons in Indonesia, where this roadmap was prepared by practitioners and researchers for the purpose of providing guidance for related parties who have concerns for gibbon conservation with various development plans. , climate change, forest fire, commodities and policies at the national and regional levels.

This meeting also at the same time inaugurated the GGN secretariat which is in the building at the Hainan Institute of National Park. Furthermore, a secretariat team will be formed and coordinated from here for the next operation of GGN activities.
The supporting partner meeting was closed with a visit to the Bawangling Nature reserve which is the habitat of the Hainan gibbon. During the last 70 years, the gibbon population on this island, which was initially spread throughout the forest on the island, dropped dramatically to 99.9%, and in the 1950s it was recorded there are only 7-8 individuals. Forest loss is the main reason for the extinction of the Hainanese gibbon. However, thanks to the efforts of various parties and the Chinese government, the current population has increased to 37 individuals, which are divided into 5 groups.


A relatively short time of only half a day, it was not possible to see the Hainan gibbons directly, we were invited to see the information center and some of the locations in Bawangling which became tourist visits. However we spotted gibbons as local pride here, murals on the wall in the road to Bawangling nature reserve. We were invited to discuss with representatives of the field team and what was really astonishing was the real time monitoring equipment used to monitor the Hainan gibbon. This command control room is connected to cameras that work automatically to monitor the movement of the Hainan gibbon. Highly sophisticated resource support to assist Hainan gibbon conservation activities.