The easter part of Indonesia is probably far from the modern and high-end life. You can say the same with the western part of Papua or the area around Cendrawasih head. However, the region is one of the greatest conservation provinces. It has a lot of beautiful things as a tourist attraction, including the bird and orchid sanctuary. Here is what westpapuastory compiles for you.
About The Biak’s Bird And Orchid Sanctuary
Compared to the famous Raja Ampat marine conservation, the name of Taman Burung dan Taman Anggrek TBTA Biak might get easily overlooked. However, it wasn’t a new attraction or establishment. The location was part of the Papua provincial government movement in the late 1980s. It was one of the efforts of conserving the endemic region’s biodiversity.
It is specially made to conserve an assortment of endemic orchids and birds biodiversity in the region. Thus, the place was mainly focused on the two subjects. With that in mind, the was also one of the greatest places to visit in Papua. It has an intact forest spanning over 28-hectare that protect flora and fauna on the island.
To make the conservation works, the forest area was meant for off-site zone conservation. Thus, the location will focus on conserving species outside their habitat. As an off-site zone, the westpapuastory find that the place is mainly managed by the Environment and Forestry service of Papua. Thus, everything inside the park will be part of the conservation effort.
However, it is not only function as the off-site conservation. The TBTA is also an on-site area to protect and conserve the endemic population. It includes plant and animal species such as anggrek and birds. Unfortunately, after the inauguration in 1990, the only 5-hectare area was constructed as a sanctuary. Meanwhile, the rest were left untouched.
30 years on, the current management tries to enable the master plan that was missing in its early development. The management also pinpoints the importance of the primary goals, including conserving, collecting, and protecting orchids around the areas. It also includes conserving endangered birds and species in Papua.
And the second primary goal is to develop the TBTA as an eco-park, education, or tourism. According to the slow yet significant development, westpapuastory can pinpoint that the place has gained more solid. In 2018, the Papua government committed to promoting the place. There are also some events organized in TBTA.
The events are a great way to introduce and show the conservation area’s potential for public view. The events also include seminars (in 2019 and 2020) that are supported by UKCCU and CIFOR. From the two seminars, several master plans help develop the park to reach the two primary objectives.
The Orchids You Can See
While the current state of the place might still unfinished, but it is one of the successful sanctuaries in western Papua. In this wonderful plant paradise, the number of orchids reaches up to more than 2,500 species. That number is nearly half of the countries orchid species ever counted.
However, the successful conservation also protects four new orchid species in the area. Westpapuastory found research by Juswara, Schuiteman, and Droissart that highlights the discoveries. The orchids are around the Lengguru Fold belt in West Papua. The new species are from the Bulbopyllum and dendrobium genus. There is also a new Taeniophyllum genus, that diversity is still poorly understood.
However, it is safe to say that the location is filled with some unknown genus. And one of the new endemic species found in the areas is Bubopyllum Irianae. You can see the beautiful orchid in TBTA. Some other well-known orchids are the Irian Giant orchid and some native orchids of the eastern part of Indonesia, such as Grammitis Coredrosora, Paphiodilum Glanduliferum.
The Birds Kingdom
Even though the sanctuary mostly highlights the orchid collections, however, it is also home to hundreds of unique birds species. Westpapuastory reminds you that the area itself is known for its flora biodiversity. On this island, the number rack up to 50 percent of the world’s biodiversity. And it includes the number of birds species on Biak’s island.
According to a recent survey by bird watching adventure in 2020, there are about 716 observed species in TBTA. It shows the huge biodiversity potential, which includes as part of the forest and the ocean nature. Thus, to support the conservation ideas and goals, the park has continuously developed to get better.
The Image Of Symbiotic Relationship In The Communities
Even though the TBTA development heavily on protection, but it also can bring symbiotic relationships with the communities. Increasing the ecosystem will help elevate the local economy through non-timber forest production. Westpapuastory found that the local dependency on forest products is around 80-90% that can destroy natural habitats.
As one of the natural habitats and the highly intact forest in Indonesia, this conservation place has a huge assortment of bird and orchid collections. They can turn into one of the greatest charms of the western part of Papua. It is also a good tourism aspect from Papua that makes the conservation province real.
