Fakfak's exotic wildlife awaits exploration
Fakfak's exotic wildlife awaits exploration
By John Mayaut
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (Antara): A forest reserve on the Kumawa mountain range in the Fakfak regency has long been promoted overseas by the World Wide Fund (WWF) as a destination for scientists, environmentalists, explorers and tourists.
It boasts a unique topography, enormous biodiversity and an abundance of natural resources in the mountains and in the lowland. The tropical forest is rich in plants, many of which are endemic to Irian Jaya and of high economic value.
The British scientist, Dr. Ian Craven, once said that Kumawa had a thousand charms with no parallel in the world.
The 123,300-hectare reserve is located in the southern area of Bomberai peninsula in southwestern Irian Jaya. Jopie Muskita, a WWF activist, said Kumawa is gaining popularity among researchers and holidaymakers.
The natural landscape is breathtaking. Rivers of various sizes snake down the hills, and the valleys are gorgeous.
The Irian Jaya provincial office of natural resources conservation (BKSDA) in cooperation with WWF and other international organizations has paid special attention to conservation of the forest.
Kumawa is a thick jungle. All hills are blanketed with green forests. The jungle's profusion of Araucaria plants are yet to be studied, said Junus, a BKSDA official.
Mangroves grow in abundance along the pollution-free Besiri River, another fascinating area for both holidaymakers and researchers to visit.
The unique Kumawa biogeography is still intact.
According to BKSDA and WWF, Kumawa is home to over 120 bird species, most of which are endemic to Irian Jaya. There are at least 23 species of dove, 20 different varieties of cockatoo, 18 different kinds of honeyeaters and eight birds of paradise.
Rhonygammus keraudreni, Seleucides melanoleuca, Paradiseea minor and Diphyllodes magnificus are the best known types of the fabulous birds of paradise, which are endemic to western Irian Jaya.
Many deer, crocodile, cuscus, kangaroo, cassowary and boars are also found here.
Western scientists are increasingly interested in researching not only the flora and fauna of this area, but also the natural wealth found here, especially for land and sea mining ventures.
Fakfak offers tourists jungle trekking, diving, hunting and the chance to visit historical sites, especially to areas bordering the Maluku province.
Fakfak is Irian Jaya's main producer of cloves, copra and nutmeg. The area is also rich in mineral and fishing opportunities.
The abundant mineral wealth has attracted local and foreign businesspeople to invest in the area.
Fakfak has excellent possibilities for the extraction of gold, copper, nickel, zinc, lead, natural gas and raw materials for cement, according to a recent finding by PT Freeport Indonesia, PT Tis and Arco geologists.
Deposits abound in the subdistricts of Kokas, Kaimana, Fakfak and Teluk Etna. PT Freeport has begun exploration for gold at Teluk Etna. While PT Tis and Arco are exploring Fakfak subdistrict for natural gas.
Fakfak has a tremendous fishery potential. Exploitation has not been optimal due to technological constraints.
Fakfak waters have often been battle grounds between foreign fishermen operating illegally.