Five Minutes Explore Central Kalimantan's Tropical Rain Forest
To enjoy and learn about tropical rainforests in Central Kalimantan, it usually takes days. Now, to commemorate Rainforest Day, a jungle walk can be summed up in five minutes.
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The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI.
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Yohana Sinamo (19), a visitor assistant (left), provided an explanation to several junior high school students in Palangkaraya City about the kerangas forest, which is one of the three types of tropical rainforests in Central Kalimantan, on Friday (23/6/2023).
Usually, exploring the forests of Central Kalimantan takes hours, even days. Now, in Palangkaraya City, people can enjoy and learn about tropical rain forests in five minutes.
Muhammad Refansyah (13), a student of SMP Negeri 7, was confused with the room inside the Aula Bapelkes of Central Kalimantan Province which was transformed into a black maze. The maze was covered by large black cloths.
He was invited inside by Yohana Sinamo, a volunteer from the Borneo Nature Indonesia Foundation. As the cloth was revealed, the first maze was so dark. Refan, whose nickname is Refansyah, became more confused when the dark maze felt so humid. Wet.
He walked on a wooden catwalk with a distance of 2 meters to 4 meters. On either side there are so many plants, the floor turns into a swamp, complete with peat water. Refan also saw several charismatic animals in this forest, such as orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and swamp forest storks (storm stork). Refan is no stranger to that situation.
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Proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus) on Curiak Island, Anjir Muara District, Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan, appeared on Sunday (10/17/2021).
Refan, who comes from Sebangau, once followed his older brother in search of fish through the peat swamp marshes. That memory returned as he entered the first labyrinth in Palangkaraya on Friday (June 23, 2023) afternoon.
Refan became more confused when entering the second labyrinth. From the marshy ground, Refan entered the sandy ground. He took off his sandals, feeling the sand like beach sand under his feet.
In the second maze, Refan feels the dry heath forest atmosphere with sandy forest floors. The charismatic animals that can be found in this maze are orangutans and red cats.
Of course, orangutans and red cats and gibbons are just pictures and dolls. Refan touched the orangutan hanging from a tree branch, but didn't move. Refan just made sure, with a smile he said, "Really a doll," he said.
On the third maze, Refan is gaping. He has never entered a highland forest before. Understandably, throughout his life he has never left Palangkaraya, while this type of forest can only be seen in several highland districts in Central Kalimantan, such as Murung Raya District, about 14 hours from the City of Palangkaraya, or Gunung Mas District, about four hours from the provincial capital.
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Yohana Sinamo (19), a visitor assistant (left), explained to several junior high school students in Palangkaraya City about the kerangas forest which is one of the three types of tropical rainforests in Central Kalimantan, on Friday (23/6/2023). The Borneo Nature Indonesia Foundation created three mazes to learn about the types of tropical rainforests in Central Kalimantan.
The atmosphere of the highland misty forest is perceived by Refan to be brighter than other forests. The endemic species that can be seen in this forest type are the orangutan and red cat.
When junior high school students left, university students from Palangka Raya University (UPR) took turns entering, curious about the three types of tropical rainforest in Central Kalimantan. Among them was Fransiska Caesaria (21), a medical student at UPR. Fransiska, who has been living in Palangkaraya City, has not had many opportunities to see life in the forest.
He is grateful to be able to enjoy a tropical rain forest ride with its labyrinth. The three labyrinths he could enjoy in just five minutes. However, if he listens carefully to the explanations of the facilitators and volunteers about the forest, he can spend 30 minutes, even an hour. He was so impressed with the maze that was made. However, the ending or the fourth labyrinth made him tear up.
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A number of junior high school students in Palangkaraya City listen to a guide in the first labyrinth about peat swamps, to get to know three types of tropical rain forests in Central Kalimantan, Friday (23/6/2023).
The fourth maze presents a condition of a burnt forest. Although it is dark, suddenly smoke emerges. Although it is not smoke from fire, it is quite disturbing. He imagines if the smoke comes from burning firewood.
Every maze is equipped with audiovisual features ranging from screens to sounds of orangutans, gibbons, and various types of wild animals that accompany visitors while exploring the artificial forest.
"I have never been to a forest like this actually. Not only enjoying it, but we also become aware of how important it is to preserve the forest for our better human life," said Fransiska.
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Yohana Sinamo (19), a visitor assistant (right), explained to several junior high school students in Palangkaraya City about the heath forest which is one of three types of tropical rainforest in Central Kalimantan, on Friday (23/6/2023).
Threat
The tropical rainforest attraction that is typical of Central Kalimantan was created by the Borneo Nature Indonesia Foundation to celebrate Rainforest Day, which is commemorated every June 22. The Chairperson of the Borneo Nature Indonesia Foundation, Juliarta B Ottay, explained that the "Rainforest Adventure" themed event for the Rainforest Festival will be held on June 21-25, 2023. Juliarta hopes that with such an attraction, a smaller-scale labyrinth can be formed to represent the vast and magnificent tropical rainforest of Central Kalimantan.
"We bring this big portrait of Central Kalimantan to this miniature. Because, maybe people in Palangkaraya have never been to Murung Raya which is far away and seen the type of forest there," said Juliarta.
He explained that not only forests were shown, but also the threats in front of us, such as forest and land fires. He believed that all disasters were caused by human actions, so it could be reminded through the final maze.
"Our hope is that slowly the pride grows that in our region there are unique things that are not found elsewhere, there is only value for the community," said Juliarta."
We are proud to have orangutans mostly found in the tropical rainforest of Central Kalimantan to always be safeguarded in their habitat and existence.
Previously, the event was opened by the Head of the Environmental Agency of Palangkaraya City, Achmad Zaini. The city government, continued Achmad, welcomes this activity and hopes that many people can come to gain a better understanding of the tropical rainforest owned by the people of Central Kalimantan, but rarely understand how important it is to preserve the forest.
"This is the moment to introduce the types of biodiversity that Central Kalimantan has. We are proud to have orangutans that are mostly found in the tropical rainforest of Central Kalimantan to always be protected in their habitat and existence," said Achmad.
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One of the staff members of Borneo Nature Indonesia provided an explanation about compost fertilizers during an event in the Rainforest Festival held in Palangkaraya, Kalteng, on Friday (23/6/2023).
In addition to the rides, Borneo Nature Indonesia also held an educational bazaar covering topics on biodiversity, non-timber forest products, and equipment commonly used when entering the forest.
"We need the participation of the community to protect and preserve biodiversity through direct education like this," said Achmad.
The festival was not only attended by school children or students, but also some parents invited their children to learn about tropical rainforests. For them, gaining firsthand experience is a valuable lesson that will be remembered for a long time.
