Voyage to Kalimantan's rivers to start today
Voyage to Kalimantan's rivers to start today
JAKARTA (JP): A 40-day expedition to explore the natural and
cultural richness of the regions along the Kapuas and Mahakam
rivers which cut across Kalimantan from west to east will start
today.
The expedition called "Kapuas-Mahakam Expedition 1994, Kompas-
Gramedia-Mapala UI" is held to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the historic expedition conducted by a Dutch military doctor
Anton W. Nieuwenhuis to explore the natural and cultural
potentials of the area.
In addition to scientific purposes, Nieuwenhuis also brought
the mission by the Dutch colonial ruler to end the inter-tribal
wars and head-hunting among the Dayak indigenous people.
This tradition at one time earned the Dayak tribes the
fearsome reputation as head hunters.
Alfons Taryadi, the expedition project head said yesterday
that among the targets of the Rp 250 million-expedition is the
promotion of ecotourism and agrotourism in the area.
"We will also publish a book," he said, adding that the
expedition will hopefully promote the efforts to preserve the
environment in Kalimantan.
The expedition is jointly organized by Kompas newspaper, the
Gramedia publishing company and Mapala UI, the organization for
nature lovers at the University of Indonesia.
It will start in Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan and
end in Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan.
An advance team has done research in the remote areas of the
two provinces, the results of which will be presented at the
Borneo Research Council Third Biennial Conference in Pontianak
next month.
Participants in the expedition include reporters working for
Kompas and other publications published by Gramedia such as
Jakarta Jakarta, Hai, Kawanku and Foto Media.
During the expedition, the participants will also cruise along
the Kapuas and Mahakam rivers.
Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono are scheduled to join the
expedition team at certain points.
University of Indonesia rector Dr. Tadjuddin and Kompas-
Gramedia group chairman Jakob Oetama will see off the delegation.
(par)