Sunday, March 29, 2009

Tourism on the island of birds Papua

Arfak mountain which is located in the 'head-Papua bird brain' is an area with a nature to reach 68,325 hectares in 2940 to reach a height of meters above sea level. Reserves are in the mountains Arfak Kabupaten Manokwari, West Papua Province. Stretching between the District Menyambouw Warmare, Ransiki, Anggi and Oransbari. This region is only about 35 km from the town of Manokwari. Required 2 days to walk up in that place. Currently, it is achieved using four kinds of wheeled vehicles off-road 4X4 or 'ranger' (a local community for this type of car) with a rate Rp. 80 thousand - Rp. 300 thousand per person. Can also use the aircraft type and the Twin Otter with cesna of the time, about 25 minutes with the tariff Rp. 300 thousand per person.

Reserve mountain Arfak still save a lot of mystery that has not been revealed until now, from the life of flora-fauna, including thousands of types of plants, orchids, fish legend Houn (not similar) in the two lakes that diapit by a "hilly paradise" called Kobrey hill. Two lakes are Lake and Lake Anggi Giji Gita Anggi that are in the height of 2000 meters above sea level. About the life of cave-cave, including the cave kedalamannya reach 2000 meters also save selaksa still a mystery.

According to information Yoris Wanggai, a tourist guide in Manokwari, are the many foreign researchers come to these places but does not bring results of research by a maximum due to the limited visiting time. Generally, the researchers have only 1-2 weeks in the mountains just Arfak, and that it is far from enough to know the mystery of mysteries-stored neatly in the mountains Arfak. "It's not enough time. If we here, have only briefly. We are not satisfied, "the statement quoted one of the tourists who gratitute Yoris when talking with EI when the tourism natural lake in the hills two Kobrey, August.

Arfak this mountain ecosystem is representing Papua land inhabited by some as a protected habitat, such as the life of different types of animals such as butterfly-wing-bird (ornithoptera-sp) who become prey butterfly collectors internationally. Swing by this type of ethnic community Arfak already ditangkarkan. One of the Iray village, near the lake Anggi Giji. This region is also inhabited by Cendrawasih Arfak (Astrapia-nigra). Many kinds of plants, among others, tree Arwob or dodonia fiscosa, typical mountain plants Arfak. There is also a timber Masohi a spicy taste like peppermint menthol, useful for penambah appetite to eat. And many rich flora-fauna that inhabit this region.

According to government data Manokwari district, mountain Arfak not have this type of less than 110 mammals, 333 birds, some of which are endemic species, mountain Arfak. One is a bird Namdur plain (Bowerd Bird). This bird, by the tribe Arfak Moley named bird Mbrecew, meaning smart or clever chatter, as can imitate voices and sounds whatever. Birds are also able to make a nest (bower) from the leaves, dry grass, and forest orchid stalk, which is made like a house and put it on the tree or in the soil.

Not surprisingly, if a number of experts who have come in this area examine the claim that history has recorded the mountains Arfak have important meaning for the development of science and education in the future and it is very feasible as genetic data library that can be processed for various types of herb and traditional medicine. Data etno-botanical reserve the mountain Arfak also rich in various types of plants that can be processed to be drug and stimulant drugs, but so far has not been used optimally.

One student researcher S2 Botany IPB Bogor, Hengky Wambraw, when had met with the author in the protected forest Manokwari Table Mountain, said keanekragaman biological life in the mountain area Arfak become incaran researchers biology, botany, geology, ecology, researchers do not terkecuai insects and birds both from foreign and local. They wanted to visit there. Hengky also had returned to the EI to be careful when touching the plants, the wild mountain region to visit "mysterious" because some of them contain the poison, there are drugs that can be made.

Temperatures around the lake is very cold. Moreover, in the hills Kobrey that can reach 6 degrees celsius. By the people in Sough tribe village Iray, farming in horticulture such as planting potatoes, carrots, spring onion, celery, various types of flowers such glad Anggi, Rhododenrum, is the right choice. They have not the pesticide. Plants mushrooming avoid substances-substances and toxic chemicals that harm. Unfortunately, their harvests still difficult to be marketed out of their area because of high transportation costs, does not cover costs such as home-go to the city or Ransiki Manokwari. They are still really hope if traders come from outside to buy their harvest.

The uniqueness of others can be found in the mountains is Arfak indigenous social life Mandacan which consists of several ethnic tribes such as Meyakh, Sough tribe, Hatam tribe with a variety of languages and traditions that are still maintained to this day. Of them, a man must walk behind the women, both his wife and son. We can also see the culture Arfak procession in connection with the ritual expression of gratitude disimbolkan with Magasa dance, dance like snakes. Usually, every harvest season, or the wedding guests, be this dance.

Arfak traditional houses called Igkojei, by the Sough tribe called Tumisen, famous for durable and robust, because a lot of pole made of wood bua type that is not easily broken even if only berdiameter 5-10 cm. Tumisen house is also often called thousand-foot house because a lot of tiangnya. Currently, the origin of a house or Igkojei has begun steps Tumisen especially from the roof of the original grass ilalang rat-rata already replaced the zinc.

Still many other unique and beautiful that we can get in the mountains Arfak. Indeed, the 2-3 days there is a very short time.

If you are a student or researcher, adventurer, professional or hobbies photography flora-fauna, or you are "modern tourist / special interest", coming soon in West Papua. Explore the mountains Arfak, browse terdalam cave in the world, around the two lakes and Anggi buktikan to the world-that you also participated in a role and "save" forests of Papua. (Fredy Tewu)

by Fredy Tewu explore-indo.com

1 comment:

  1. This is a good story. I like reading it particularly because I live in
    Manokwari Papua
    a small but beautiful town in the northern coast of West Papua.

    ReplyDelete