Dompu, Ekuatorial – Presiden Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo inaugurated Tambora Mountain of West Nusa Tenggara as national park, in Doro Ncanga, Dompu, on Saturday (11/4).
Mount of Tambora, located in Sumbawa island under administrations of Dompu and Bima districts, produced the biggest eruption known to mankind back in 1815 as its volcanic ashes darkened the world resulted to a year without summer.
Two hundred years later, the mountain obtaining its status as protected areas will be divided into several zones, nature reserve, wildlife reserve, tourism, and hunting park.
The nature reserve zone means that man are not allowed to enter the area except for research purpose. Meanwhile, wildlife reserve dedicated for its biodiversity, especially birds. Tourism zone would also be potential for micro hydro power plants.
Under Ministry of Environment and Forestry decision letter, the 71,644 hectares of Tambora Mountain comprises of 23,840 hectares of nature reserve, 21,674 hectares of wildlife reserve, and 26,130 hectares of hunting park
On his speech, President Jokowi said that the national park needed to be conserved and protected.
“I would like to remember two centuries of Tambora Eruption, Tambora Menyapa Dunia, by making it as a momentum to promote tourism for Dompu, Bima, and West Nusa Tenggara. So, the world will know where is Dompu, where is Bima, where is West Nusa Tenggara, and where is Indonesia,” said President Jokowi.
Meanwhile, Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, said that they were still coordinating with local government to prepare Tambora Mountain as national park, especially its infrastructures, such as bridge, jungle tracking, bird monitoring station, wall climbing, off road, paragliding, among other things.
On illegal logging threats, Nurbaya said that she had instructed to review mode of operation of illegal logging which usually resulted from shifting cultivation.
Furthermore, she said that all elements must be able to identify in detail and properly on people’s habit on shifting cultivation or land burning to collect deer.
There would need, she said, people’s development through concepts of people forest or village forest or social forest. “Of course, there will be guidance and temporary working unit of Tambora Mountain established by West Nusa Tenggara Conservation Natural Resources agency,” she said. Ekuatorial Team