Tag Archives: Mendolo

29Dec/25

Mendolo Food Week 2025: Weaving Food, Art, and Conservation for the Future of the Forest

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women prepared food in Mendolo food week

by Sidiq Harjanto

The Mendolo Food Week 2025 became a vital moment for the people of Mendolo Village to weave together traditions of food, art, and conservation. Long before the event, women from the Brayanurip Women Farmers Group had prepared keluwek from pucung seeds, while young members of the Mendolo Youth Farmers Association practiced dances with their younger siblings. For days, villagers gathered forest vegetables and mushrooms, decorated the stage with natural materials, and curated menus based on forest produce—showing how food, culture, and nature are deeply connected.

Jingkrak Sundang dance

food prepared from the forest

More than just a food festival, Food Week served as a conservation hub under the theme “Food and Ecosystem Connectivity.” Collaboration between SwaraOwa, the village government, and local communities has fostered sustainable economic programs such as shade-grown coffee, stingless bee honey, and gadung flour, alongside conservation efforts like tree planting for forest corridors. The highlight was the launch of the “Titian Lestari” program, which carries three missions: building habitat corridors for the Javan gibbon, educating youth about forests and wildlife, and empowering women in forest management.

branyan urip dancers

Art played an integral role in strengthening the conservation message. Children’s performances such as Gaculan Bocah and Jingkrak Sundang brought joy while also evoking empathy for wildlife losing their habitats. Combined with 31 forest-based dishes served to guests, Mendolo Food Week 2025 affirmed that food traditions, artistic expression, and conservation are inseparable—an enduring collective effort to safeguard forests, wildlife, and the future of generations to come.

This aricle translated from original article published in bahasa : https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2025/12/pekan-pangan-mendolo-2025-pangan-dan.html

 

24Dec/25

Life Corridor at Risk: The Shrinking Habitat of Javan Gibbons in Mendolo

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By : Kurnia Ahmaddin

The monitoring of Javan gibbons in Sawahan Hamlet, Mendolo Village began with the concern of the youth from PPM Mendolo, who suspected that the gibbons in the western hills of their village were becoming isolated. Since 2010, much of the forest area has been converted into durian orchards and non-shade coffee plantations. Through the Corridor of Life program, which started in 2022, we encouraged their concern to grow into a tree-planting initiative so that gibbons separated from their original groups could regain forest corridors for their own range. For this reason, we guided the PPM Mendolo youth to follow the movements of the Javan gibbons in the western hills of their village to address their concerns.

Forest Fragmentation in Kupel Hill

The fragmentation of forests in Kupel Hill (west of Sawahan Hamlet, Mendolo Village) cannot be easily detected from satellite imagery, as most of the hill is covered by rubber plantations owned by PTPN. A small portion (marked yellow on the map) has been left unmanaged since the last logging in 2017, which has since grown into secondary forest. The rest consists of durian and coffee plantations. Ground checks revealed that only 70 hectares of forest trees remain out of the original 200 hectares of Kupel Hill.


From January to October 2025, 74 encounter reports were recorded by the monitoring team, including research data from Nur Azizah (research intern from Biologi UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta) between April and June. Only one record noted gibbons crossing through a durian orchard; the rest were observed exclusively in forest trees. The target gibbon group consists of a breeding pair, two juveniles, and one infant. During the monitoring period, their range covered approximately 32.9 hectares. However, in August 2025, 7.29 hectares of secondary forest (yellow on the map), owned by PTPN, was logged again for timber harvest. As a result, the gibbon group’s range shrank to 25.61 hectares. Within this area, there is a natural overlap of 4.72 hectares (red on the map) with another gibbon group of four individuals.
Monitoring results show that areas without encounter points (green on the map) are durian and non-shade coffee plantations, visible as empty circles without encounter marks. Given that only one crossing was recorded in durian orchards, the target group’s range is at risk of further shrinking unless sustainable farming practices are introduced.

Behavior of the Gibbons in Sawahan

We acknowledge that our field data collection has not yet been consistent. We only recorded brief behavioral notes during monitoring, as the gibbon group in Sawahan is not yet habituated. Monitoring was conducted for half days, not from waking to sleeping. Rain and other field challenges also shortened observation hours. Behavior was recorded only once per encounter, ad-libitum, without systematic time intervals.
Behaviors noted included feeding, resting or sleeping, moving, playing, mating, grooming, and vocalizing, which we categorized as social behavior. Average encounter distance was 95.1 meters from observers. The gibbons remained cautious, often leaving when humans approached within 100 meters. Although the closest tree (Tengger tree) was about 30 meters away, the monitoring team always hid to avoid frightening the gibbons. We also wore consistent uniforms during observations to reduce disturbance. The group was active in the canopy, averaging 25.7 meters above ground.
The most frequently recorded activity was moving, likely because the group is not yet habituated. The least observed were social activities. Among social behaviors, we noted play among the juveniles, grooming, and vocalizations (great calls or alarm calls). No reproductive activity was recorded. The group was often observed resting—sitting, lying down, or napping—and frequently feeding. Due to distance, we could not yet identify the insects consumed. However, in Mendolo we have documented 27 tree species used as gibbon food sources.

Translated from original article in bahasa here :https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2025/12/menyempitnya-wilayah-jelajah-owa-jawa.html

 

29May/25

The urgency of the habitat corridor for the Javan gibbon: two years of a participatory planting program

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by : Sidiq Harjanto ( SwaraOwa) dan Alex Rifa’i (PPM Mendolo)

a group of gibbons in Sawahan forest ( doc. PPM Mendolo)

Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) is one of the nine species  of gibbon in Indonesia. The distribution of this grey ape is endemic to the island of Java and is limited to the western part of the island. Owa Jawa (in Javanese)  is found in lowland tropical forest habitats with certain specifications. They live arboreally (on the forest canopy) so they need good forest canopy connectivity. Currently, the Javan gibbon is listed as an endangered species in the IUCN red list.

Habitat fragmentation is a threat that accelerates the extinction of this charismatic species. The habitat fragmentation condition referred to is when the forest area no longer provides good canopy or canopy connectivity. Simply put, an expanse of forest is broken up into smaller blocks. Because of the need for a connected forest canopy, the slightest disturbance in the gibbon’s habitat, such as the opening of a road, can fragment the habitat for the gibbon.

When a group or family of gibbons is separated from the population, it increases the chance of inbreeding which leads to genetic drift. Intermarriage between closely related family members dramatically reduces gene diversity. This results in health problems and adaptability and increases the risk of extinction. The more massive the isolation of the population, then the rate of extinction of a species is also increasing.

map of fragmented gibbon habitat in Mendolo

Monitoring gibbon groups in fragmented habitats

It takes care to ensure habitat fragmentation for the Javan gibbon. At first glance, the land cover often looks relatively good. However, if we refer to the specific needs of the ape species from the Hylobatidae family that require heterogeneous forests, it turns out that not all areas match the needs of the gibbon population. There are several pockets of Javan gibbon habitat forest surrounded by garden areas, such as durian and coffee, or other homogeneous vegetation cover that is not compatible with the needs of the habitat.

participatory gibbon monitoring in Mendolo village ( Doc. PPM Mendolo)

Paguyuban Petani Muda (PPM) Mendolo, in collaboration with Swaraowa, has been monitoring groups of Javan gibbons that are in small forest blocks that are separated from the main forest block. Groups of gibbons generally share space in forested areas that are far below the ideal territory. From this monitoring data, future conservation efforts can be formulated.

The monitoring team consists of two or three people every day, leaving in the morning around 05:30 WIB or sometimes the departure schedule can be even earlier. Upon arrival at the monitoring location, the team began to observe the daily activities of the group of Javan gibbons, such as eating, playing, resting, and sleeping. In addition, we also recorded the types of fodder trees, and the average height of the canopy they used for activities. These data are important considering that their habitat area overlaps with community arable land.

Several times groups of gibbons were observed crossing into the coffee plantation area where the average height of the trees was no more than five meters. In fact, there were some residents who reported that they had seen a Javan gibbon walking on the ground. The phenomenon of gibbons walking on the ground seems funny at first glance, but this finding is worrying because it deviates from its natural behavior. Owa Jawa is a completely arboreal animal, if it comes down to the ground to cross from one tree to another, this indicates that its habitat is not ideal.

Forest corridors for habitat connection

Right now we are racing against time. Data on habitat fragmentation for the Javan gibbon in this landscape is still very limited. However, there are beginning to be findings that indicate that condition. This requires a prompt response to avoid the risk of accelerating extinction. Starting from the data that is still very limited, efforts, albeit on a small scale, have been made. One of the efforts made is through the creation of habitat corridors and the enrichment of fodder trees.

planting trees by Mendolo community ( Doc. PPM Mendolo)

This year, it is the second year for the residents of Sawahan Village, Mendolo Village to carry out a corridor planting program and the enrichment of forest tree species. The seeds planted this year include Babi wood (Crypteronia sp.), Sapi wood (Pometia pinnata), Rau, sentul , Nangkan. A total of about 700 seedlings. Some seeds are planted on the borders of small rivers, or grooves according to local terms. Planting in these grooves is expected to be a forest corridor in the future, as well as for water and soil conservation.

In addition to river border areas, various forest fruit seeds are also planted in arable land to increase the population of fodder trees for Javan gibbons. Types of fodder trees that gibbons like are rau (Drancontomelon dao), bendo (Artocarpus elasticus), nangkan (Artocarpus rigidus), and sentul (Sandoricum koetjape). With the enriched agroforestry model, it is hoped that groups of Javan gibbons will still be able to survive, at least from the side of the title connection and feed availability.

The concept of the habitat corridor in Mendolo is similar to the community baboon sanctuary program that has succeeded in maintaining the population of howler monkeys in Belize, Central America. It is long-term in nature and requires the collaboration of various parties. In principle, this program seeks to find an equilibrium between the ideal habitat needs of the Javan gibbon and the economic interests of the community from land management.

Community-based conservation

It cannot be denied that many environmental problems are global in nature, such as climate change, mass extinction, and deforestation – including habitat fragmentation. However, the ways of handling it can start from a small scale. Conservation actions need to be adapted to the local context. The scale can be based on ecoregions, bioregions, landscapes, or even on a small administrative scope, such as a village. In the rural context, community-based conservation has become a paradigm as well as a promising strategy.

In Sawahan Hamlet there has been the initiation of the Hamlet Regulation (Perduk) which regulates the protection of wildlife. This rule applies to several groups of animals, namely: fish, birds, and primates. The development of this citizen’s agreement brings a breath of fresh air to efforts to preserve biodiversity in Mendolo Village. The preservation of wildlife certainly cannot stop at the ban on hunting, but needs to be deepened towards habitat preservation. This forest corridor program is one of the long-term efforts to get there.

This habitat corridor and fodder tree enrichment program is community-based. Citizen participation is the key to sustainability. The willingness of tilling the land (areas bordering the river), the consistency of seed procurement, planting, and the commitment to tree care are highly dependent on the active role of community members. Currently, the role is played by the farmers who cultivate the land, the group of farm women who help prepare the seeds, as well as the members of the PPM Mendolo who alternately monitor groups of gibbons in the Mendolo region. We thank them for their very meaningful contribution.

translated from orginal article in bahasa here : https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2025/05/urgensi-koridor-habitat-bagi-owa-jawa.html

 

09Apr/25

The Women Forest Guardians: KWT Brayan Urip

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by Sidiq harjanto

The esteemed women of Sawahan return from the forest in search of gadung tubers.

On February 25, 2025, the women’s informal group “Brayan Urip” in Sawahan, Mendolo Village, transitioned into an official Women Farmers Group (KWT). Led by Sri Windriyah, with 16 members currently, the group aims to promote sustainable agricultural practices, solidarity, creativity, and local wisdom preservation.
Key Objectives & Activities:

Sustainable Food Ecosystem: The group focuses on local and organic food traditions, emphasizing how responsible food choices impact ecological balance. They process locally sourced wild plants and tubers like gadung (Dioscorea hispida), which grows in nearby forests. This initiative combines sustainable farming, biodiversity conservation, and economic empowerment for women, while also protecting the forest habitat.

Education & Community Involvement: KWT Brayan Urip actively educates the younger generation about biodiversity and conservation. Their efforts include collaborations with local organizations to hold discussions on environmental issues, aiming to ensure that cultural and ecological traditions remain rooted in the community.

The article highlights a wonderful example of community-driven conservation and empowerment, translated from original blogpost https://swaraowa.blogspot.com/2025/03/para-perempuan-penjaga-hutan-kwt-brayan.html

 

29Oct/24

Agro-forest Mendolo Village, Habitat of the critically endangered Javan Slow Loris

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Javan slow loris ( Nycticebus javanicus) .Photo by M Yoga Saputra

Let me introduce myself, Muhammad Yoga Saputra, I am a student of the Forest Management study program at Sebelas Maret University, Surakarta. Through the 2024 SwaraOwa scholarship program, with my colleague Ratna Dwi Setyowati and we got the opportunity to research for a thesis on the Javanese slow loris (Nycticebus javanicus). The Javan slow loris is one of seven species of slow lorises that live and are distributed in Indonesia. Based on the International Union of Conservation of Nature Resources (IUCN) Red List 2021, the Javan slow loris is included in the critically endangered category and is also included in Appendix 1 by Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

We observed the population, distribution and habitat of the Javan slow loris in Mendolo Forest, Lebakbarang, Pekalongan. Mendolo Forest is located in 4 hamlets, namely Sawahan, Mendolo Kulon, Mendolo Wetan, and Krandegan. Field observations were carried out in the second-fourth week of September 2024. We were accompanied by the Mendolo Village Young Farmers Association (PPM) who always accompanied us in collecting data. During our observations, we found 8 individuals of Javan slow loris in the Mendolo Forest. In the four hamlets in Mendolo Village, only Mendolo Wetan Hamlet did not find the Javan slow loris species. Our observations start at 19.30 – 24.00. We took night observations because the Javan slow loris is a nocturnal animal and when exposed to a flashlight, the eyes of the Javan slow loris emit eye rays which makes it easier to find the Javan loris’s whereabouts compared to daytime observations. We used the line transect method, where the transects were placed in areas where the Javan slow loris was believed to be present.

an individu of Javan Slow loris spotted in Mendolo agro-forest habitat. Photo by M Yoga Saputra

During night observation, we found several species in the Mendolo Forest such as the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica), Rekrekran- Javan surili (Presbytis fredericae), Wild Boar (Sus scrofa), Black Banded Barbet (Megalaima javensis), Sunda scops Owl ( Otus angelinae), and Sunda flying lemur (Galeopterus variegatus). Apart from that, during daytime observations we also found various species such as the Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch), Serpent  eagle (Spilornis cheela), black eagle (Ictinaetus malaiensis), banded kingfisher  (Lacedo pulchella) and Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus).

The Javan slow loris is a semi-solitary animal. This can be seen in our observations where almost all individuals of the Javan slow loris were found alone. However, one of the Javan slow lorises was found with its infant. Observing at night requires precision and patience because sometimes we misidentify when there are eyes light on the tree that there is a Javan slow loris.  However, when you look closely the glow from the eyes can come from civets, squirrels,  or from Sunda flying lemurs. Apart from taking population and distribution data, we also took habitat data for the Javan slow loris in the Mendolo Forest.

Habitat data collection was carried out during the day by creating several plots to identify the habitat of the Javan slow loris in the Mendolo Forest. The habitat of the Javan slow loris in the Mendolo Forest is generally found in stands of coffee  and durian trees. Apart from that, the Javan slow loris can be found on jackfruit trees and trees containing sap, because the Javanese slow loris’ favorite food is the sap produced from twigs, stems, flowers or leaves. As in coffee stands, we saw that young coffee leaf twigs were often eaten by the Javan slow loris

12Oct/24

Camera trap competition: biodiversity inventory of Mendolo Village

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by : Kurnia Ahmaddin

givingaway goat for the cameratrap competion winner

The mountainous forests of Pekalongan are one of the remaining biodiversity pockets on the island of Java. However, changes in landuse and forest fragmentation still threaten the sustainability of the animals that live in them (Setiawan et al, 2012). The latest survey regarding forest fragmentation in this area shows the potential for reducing the structure of the main forest blocks into smaller parts (Widyastuti et al, 2023). To reduce the rate of habitat destruction, education and monitoring of wildlife at the community level around forest blocks is needed (Horwich & Lyon, 2007).

We are collaborating with PPM Mendolo, as one of the local communities in this area, taking the initiative to invite Mendolo village residents to recognize and monitor wild animals in their  village. Furthermore, we package these two goals in the form of a biodiversity competition to encourage residents around the forest to document and recognize wildlife. This competition was attended by community representatives from each hamlet in Mendolo Village to install camera traps. Competition activities will be held from 8 August to 18 September 2024 with a total of 25 installation days. At the end of the series of competition events, we gave away goat as an appreciation for participation to all participants.

Longtailed macaque

As a first step in expanding awareness of wildlife to the wider community, this activity received quite a lot of enthusiasm from the community. Within a period of 25 days, 16 camera trap points were recorded which were installed independently by 11 people from representatives from all hamlets. We have provided participants at the start of the competition with how to install and use camera traps and the ‘kobotoolbox’ application for recording spatial information. We calculate points based on daily points obtained from animal pictures. Meanwhile, the value of the animals obtained is that we rank the types of animals based on the level of difficulty of encountering the animals. The more difficult the animal encounter, the greater the points earned.

muntjak deer

Mouse deer

The results of obtaining images of wild animals caught by camera traps were also interesting, they were able to record Rekrekan (Presbytis fredericae), Long-tailed monkey (Macaca fascicularis), Muncak deer (Muntiacus muntjak), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), Mouse deer (Tragulus kanchil), Javan porcupine (Hystrix javanica), Javanese Garangan (Urva javanica), 2 species of treeshrew, 1 species of squirrel and 1 species of rat. The hamlets that have the right to win 1st place are Sawahan and Mendolo Kulon hamlets because the points obtained by both hamlets are the same. Meanwhile, the 2nd place winner was Mendolo Kulon hamlet and Kradegan was the 3rd place winner. In appreciation for the 1st winner, we gave 1 goat to each hamlet. We also gave 2 pairs of cockerels to Mendolo Kulon hamlet and 6 pairs of free-range chickens to Kradegan hamlet.

villagers seting up camera trap

camera trap unit

Closing the competition event, we evaluated the camera installation and looked at the resulting images together at the Mendolo village office. The event was opened by the chairman of PPM Mendolo as the organizer’s representative, followed by remarks by Mr. Kaliri as the head of Mendolo Village. In closing, we had a short discussion about the function of wild animals in nature and continued with the distribution of competition prizes. This series of events can be held well with initiatives from the local community and support from the village government. From this small step, we have great hopes that Mendolo village will become one of the wildlife friendly villages in Indonesia, by recognizing the biodiversity around the village, taking inventory means a step protecting the village’s own assets.

Literature cited

Setiawan, A., Nugroho, T. S., Wibisono, Y., Ikawati, V., & Sugardjito, J. (2012). Population density and distribution of javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) in Central Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas, 13(1), 23–27.https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d130105

Widyastuti, Salmah., Farajallah, Dyah P., Lilik, B. P., Iskandar, Entang. 2023. The Javan Gibbon (Hylobates moloch) Habitat Changes and Fragmentation in the Dieng Mountains, Indonesia. Jurnal Manajemen Hutan Tropika, 29(2), 150-160, August 2023

Horwich, Robert H and Lyon, Jonathan. 2007. Community conservation: practitioners’ answer to critics. FFI: Oryx, 41(3), 376–385

29Jan/24

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

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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.

 

16Apr/23

The Ecosystem Services behind Mendolo’s Coffee

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By Sidiq Harjanto, translated by T.T.Chan

The rufous piculet, perched on in Mendolo agro-forest coffee

Pekalongan Regency is one of the regions in Central Java Province known for coffee production. According to the Indonesian Plantation Statistics 2020-2022 data released by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture’s Directorate General of Plantations, the output of robusta coffee from smallholders in Pekalongan was at 372 tonnes, involving a total of 1,650 farmers on 483 ha of land. That of arabica coffee, on the other hand, was at 100 tonnes from 857 farmers on 198 ha.

In terms of total volume, Pekalongan produces far less robusta beans than the neighbouring regencies of Temanggung (9,761 tonnes), Kudus (1,594 tonnes), and Banjarnegara (1,570 tonnes). This significant difference in figures is due in part to the area of land and number of farmers involved in growing coffee. However, Pekalongan performs quite well on productivity per hectare at 823 kg/ha, which is above the national average of 817 kg/ha. That said, these figures are still a far cry from Vietnam’s 2,300 kg/ha.

Mendolo is a village in Pekalongan where livelihoods largely depend on coffee produced through the agroforestry system. In order to enhance the value of coffee beans grown by local farmers, the Mendolo Young Farmers’ Association (PPM Mendolo) now grind these, which they market under the brand ‘Kopi Batir’. The Kopi Batir brand also offers roasting services to locals who want to enjoy coffee from their village’s plantations without having to do the roasting themselves.

Last year, this coffee business produced around 700 kgs of premium quality coffee, sold in the form of ground coffee or green beans. While this amount still pales in comparison to the volume of coffee beans from this village sold as cherries or sent out without sorting, the production capacity of this business continues to increase year by year.

In fact, Kopi Batir roasted more than one tonne of coffee beans in 2022. M. Ridholah is the man behind this remarkable initiative that has revived his fellow villagers’ interest in drinking their own coffee. Only equipped with a simple self-assembled roaster machine, he has helped to place Kopi Batir at the forefront of steering consumption trends away from factory coffee and towards locally grown coffee.

A Small Step in a Promising Direction

Creating the optimal coffee plantation requires knowledge of and experience in land preparation, fertilisation, pruning, pest control and a well-thought-out harvesting process. In addition, coffee growers need to understand the ways in which their crop interacts with the natural environment – how their productivity could be influenced by ecosystem services, for example.

On 18 March 2023, as part of our ‘Mendolo Coffee Meet’ event, SwaraOwa/Owa Coffee invited PPM Mendolo and representatives of coffee growers to work out how coffee cultivation in Mendolo could be done in a way that reflects greater ecological awareness. Our hope was to come up with a set of improved practices that would allow the natural environment to thrive and provide farmers with ecosystem services in order to boost their income.

a tailor foraging for food on a flowering coffee tree

Biodiversity is an integral part of agroforestry plantations and has the potential to be a positive influence on the crops grown there. Chain-Guadarrama et al., in a 2019 article ‘Ecosystem services by birds and bees to coffee in a changing climate: A review of coffee berry borer control and pollination‘, state that birds and bees are two types of fauna that play a key role in coffee cultivation. Many bird species prey on insects and are therefore indispensable as ecological pest-control agents. Remove these birds and the insect population could explode, resulting in direct losses for farmers.

To ensure that birds can fulfil their role in the ecosystem, they must first be protected and allowed to live freely in the wild. Next, birds also need suitable habitat. Agroforestry or intercropping could provide this as they ensure that a variety of vegetation layers and types are present, thereby increasing opportunities for birds to find food and places to nest.

beekeeping in the agro-forest coffee is perfect combination in Mendolo

wildlife photography, as a medium to increase appreciation of biodiversity in Mendolo Agro-forest

Bees, on the other hand, help to pollinate coffee plants. Robusta coffee requires cross pollination, which is done by the wind and insects. Arabica coffee differs in being able to self-pollinate, but insect-mediated pollination has been proven to increase the quality and quantity of the crop. Therefore, bees have the potential to boost Arabica coffee yields.

There are numerous species of bee worldwide, including dozens of types of honey bee, hundreds of stingless bees (klancèng), and thousands of solitary bees. Each type has its own distribution and occupies different habitats. Which species of bees are beneficial for coffee and what type of habitat they need are issues that still require a lot of research.

Fully leveraging various bee species as pollinating agents necessitates the protection of their habitat, avoiding the use of pesticides and integrating beekeeping into spaces used for agriculture. In Mendolo, stingless bee husbandry has been practised since 2017. Aside from producing honey that could generate more income for locals, beekeeping in Mendolo also allows farmers to reap the benefits of the ecosystem services provided by bees, which both increase agricultural productivity and improve the sustainability of the forest.

Although the benefits agriculture stands to gain from ecosystem services are undeniable, our focus group discussions have revealed that much hard work is still needed to convince farmers to adopt bird and bee-friendly practices. More research needs to be done on the role of birds in keeping agricultural pest populations under control, and how these ecological services can best be harnessed. Likewise with bee pollination services, the ideal way of integrating beekeeping with agroforestry still remains to be found.

PPM Mendolo will spearhead participatory research to explore the roles of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Mendolo agroforestry system. They will also continue spreading awareness about the ecological roles of birds and bees. Given the community’s reliance on agriculture, Mendolo needs to be encouraged to become a village that cares about biodiversity. For this to be achieved, Mendolo and villages like it need to first have comprehensive data on their biodiversity.

We sincerely applaud PPM Mendolo for their pioneering work in pushing for innovation in agroforestry and raising awareness of how important biodiversity is to the local community. At our ‘Mendolo Coffee Meet’ event, SwaraOwa presented a roasting machine with a capacity of 1 kg to Batir Coffee. It was our token of appreciation to them for their hard work in developing coffee delights in Mendolo, as well as to PPM Mendolo for their efforts to encourage conservation in the village, including of the Javan gibbon and Javan slow loris.

 

10Feb/23

The richness of Mendolo Village – Durians and biodiversity

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By Sidiq Harjanto & Kurnia Ahmadin

Durian cultivars in Mendolo ( Foto Ikmal Biolaska)

We believe that a sustainable economy is key to safeguarding the forest habitat of the Javan gibbon. This is why SwaraOwa have made shade coffee (coffee that grows under the natural shade of forest trees), palm sugar and beekeeping ‘core businesses’ of ours. In this, our primary aim is to promote sustainable economic growth for the communities living around the forests inhabited by the Javan gibbon. If we manage to develop these businesses in line with forest conservation efforts, we will demonstrate that it is possible to improve the welfare of local communities without over-exploiting our forests.

In Mendolo Village, we are close partners with the Mendolo Young Farmers Association (PPM Mendolo), who are the driving force for nature conservation in their village. As the younger generation there mostly still practice farming, PPM Mendolo functions as an incubator for them to launch innovative projects at a local level.

Tasting the richness of Mendolo’s durians

Durian has long been a sought-after commodity in Mendolo Village. With its superior taste, Mendolo’s durians also form one of the main pillars of the local economy. However, because this village is quite hard to reach, its durians are not well known among lovers of this tropical fruit.

And so the PPM youth had the idea of transforming their village into an attraction where visitors can enjoy local durian directly at its source. Developing tourism will also boost Mendolo’s reputation as the home of quality durian.

On 15 January 2023, PPM Mendolo invited Biolaska (Students of Biology at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, IDS (Indonesia Dragonfly Society), and SwaraOwa to research the potential of durians from Mendolo Village. We inventoried and did taste profiling on durians grown by local farmers. Our aim is to produce a catalogue of durian varieties in Mendolo that will most certainly be of use to durian enthusiasts seeking to explore the richness of these durians that are Mendolo’s very own.

From a sample of 24 local durian varieties, we identified different physical and taste characteristics. Fruit shape ranges from perfectly round, to ovoid, to wavy, all the way to pear-shaped. Husk colours include green, yellow and brown. The fruit itself also varies in colour, from white to yellowish white  yellow. In terms of fruit taste, the profiles include sweet, creamy, alcoholic, slightly bitter, and sticky rice. The thickness of the fruit flesh is another variable characteristic.

During our time there, everybody was given a chance to experience ngramban, an activity where food plants growing wild in the forest are collected and then cooked for dinner. That night, we served up no less than 18 dishes. This is a valuable tradition, as preparing food from locally sourced natural ingredients instils in the village community an appreciation for the various wild plants and animals in their surroundings.

The wildlife found in the forests nearby also offers the potential for ecotourism. Wildlife watching has in fact vastly gained in popularity in recent years. In this connection, PPM Mendolo have actively collected data on the avifauna in and around the village, and monitored primates such as the Javan gibbon, Javan langur and Javan slow loris.

Sustainable growth for Mendolo

Our projects in Mendolo were not solely conceptualised as an alternative livelihood for the community, but also as a catalyst for village development. Law No. 6/2014 on Villages has brought about a paradigm shift, with the focus moving away from growing villages to villages growing. This puts villagers in the driver’s seat where village development is concerned. They are irreplaceable with their intimate knowledge of local conditions and history, and are our greatest hope in realising a development trajectory in line with sustainable principles.

Each village is unique in its potential for development. Getting villagers, especially the younger generation, acquainted with their biodiversity and various types of produce, will help spread awareness of how humans can enjoy tangible benefits from working in harmony with nature.

As a simple example, durian plantations do not automatically yield abundant fruit. In order to produce a good crop, farmers need wild birds to provide pest control services, as well as bats to do pollination. If they are made aware of this, the community will naturally want to protect the ecosystem to consistently reap a good durian harvest.

Biodiversity is Indonesia’s greatest asset and certainly also its future, but we need to preserve and manage it properly. For this to work, we must take care of diversity at the species, genetic and ecosystem level. The diversity of durian varieties in Mendolo is an example of diversity management at the genetic level. This diversity can be transformed into capital to develop Indonesia if more people come to appreciate the value of having such a broad range of durian flavours.

16Nov/21

Caring for Our Natural Heritage: Mendolo Forest

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a gibbon, photoghraped by Hudi member of Mendolo youth farmers group

Mendolo village is located in the Lebakbarang sub-district of Pekalongan Regency. The Mendolo forest surrounds Mendolo village, and is officially a Limited Production Forest managed by Perum Perhutani, KPH Pekalongan Timur. This site contains one of the 16 critical areas of gibbon habitat in Central Java identified by a 2012 study, and boasts a high level of habitat suitability according to research on the distribution and habitat of gibbons (Widyastuti et al 2020, Setiawan et al. al 2012). SwaraOwa’s long-term projects in this area are all aimed at conserving the Javan gibbons that live here.

According initiate survey, the amount of potential Javan gibbon habitat in this region totals approx 300 ha, (equivalent to 87 football fields) with a gibbon four to six groups in the agro-forest habitat, that we called Wana-Tani in javanese language. other javan endemic primates such as Javan langur ( Trachypithecus auratus), Javan Surili ( Presbytis comata), and Javan slow loris ( Nycticebus javanicus) also occupied this habitat.  Their range comprises locations with natural vegetation of forest and shade grown commodities such as kopi robusta, Durian,Petai, Jengkol, banana, kapulaga,  and many more. A scheme which aims both to improve the local economy and promote agroforestry is a gibbon conservation project centered on this village.

SwaraOwa first became involved in Mendolo village in 2015, when we were tasked with assisting the Pekalongan district government in surveying and inventorying the protected flora and fauna of the Mendolo forest, among other sites . Nowadays, we pay this village a visit almost every month. These visits are part of our efforts to reach out and communicate with village residents, so that we can find out which local commodities in particular can be prioritised for further development.

Mendolo village is also known for its durian production. In areas where agroforestry is practised, durian is an intensively cultivated crop that is grown among wild trees valued for their wood. In the harvest season, this village supplies the durian markets of Pekalongan and surrounds. Although there is currently no research on how durian productivity relates to bio-ecological factors, there are indications that the presence of pollinators plays a role, more specifically bats and  insects such as bees. Honey is one commodity  related to durian agroforestry, being harvested in abundance when the durian trees flower.

Drinking honey, is daily activities for Mendolo villagers

Almost all residents of this village, especially the men, collect honey from the forest. This tradition has been passed down through the generations. Aside from being used for personal consumption, forest honey also contributes to the local economy. We had previously done a preliminary study to find out what potential harvesting forest honey held for this village. This study motivated the Beekeeping team, led by SwaraOwa’s Sidiq Harjanto, to start seriously experimenting with stingless bee.

The Mendolo Young Farmers Association is the driving force for conservation in Mendolo, fostering a spirit of togetherness and inculcating pride in the Mendolo forest. In the early days, meetings in Mendolo village and training sessions on post-harvest handling at SwaraOwa Yogyakarta eventually gave rise to a series of continually evolving projects spearheaded by young people in Mendolo. The project to enhance post-harvest processes for coffee has succeeded in establishing “Kopi Batir”, a small exercise in entrepreneurship that markets Robusta coffee beans grown in Mendolo. The project operates under the slogan ‘nepungaké seduluran’, Javanese for ‘forging strong friendships’, reflecting how this coffee aims to bring people together.

Orange minivet

Projects to promote the conservation of forest areas are emerging at a slow but steady pace, initiated by residents concerned about nature. Birdwatching activities have been and are being developed in Mendolo. These aim to promote the idea that birds and other flora and fauna around the village are an important asset that must be preserved because they promise locals significant economic and ecological benefits.

Activities to strengthen the protection of forest areas but must continue to be nurtured, initiatives from local community  to care for nature. Primates and birds observation activities are being developed in Mendolo (the photos above are some of the species encountered during the observation) the aim is To increase the capacity of the younger generation, recognize the important liars’ lives around the village, birds and flora and fauna are also village assets that must be preserved, it is not possible that they can then be economically more sustainable.

Some of the products from activities in Mendolo hamlet can be obtained through Batir Coffee and Owa coffee. Although still on a small scale, coffee and forest cultivated by local residents can help motivate residents around the forest and support gibbon conservation activities and forest conservation in the Mendolo forest area and its surroundings.

This field reports, part of Coffee and Primate Conservation Project 2021, written by Arif Setiawan in bahasa, and translated by TT Chan,   supported by Fortwayne Children’s Zoo, Mandai Nature, and Ostrava Zoo.