Forestry students of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) that join nature enthusiast group, Mapala Silvagama, continued the expedition to 50 National Parks. This time the team explored Lake Sentarum and Mt. Palung National Parks in Kalimantan, focusing on research in environmental damage.
Chairman of Mapala Silvagama, Dede Candra Sunarso, explained the expedition started in 31 July 2019 with the team departing to Jakarta and heading on to Putusibbau. The team first explored the Lake Sentarum National Park with the focus on diurnal birds biodiversity in the Kirin Lintang forest.
Next, they will explore Mt. Palung National Park while focusing research on Nephentes sp. (tropical pitcher plant) that spreads in various ecosystems. The two objects of research are the bioindicators of nature damage, especially peat ecosystem.
Dede said the goal of the expedition was to present informative and educative outputs regarding nature conservation to the wider community.
The team has produced a photobook on the expedition to Lake Sentarum and Mt. Palung National Parks. They will also produce a map on the spread of the diurnal birds in Lake Sentarum National Park and the spread of Nepenthes sp. in Mt. Palung National Park.
The Mapala Silvagama team is supported by the National Peat Restoration Agency and UGM’s photography unit (UFO). Team members consist of Hamzah Ramdhani, Tegar Kukuh Pribadi, Jatmiko Bayu Aji, Yusta Elvasonia Duan, Rendy Wijayanto, Rienetta Ichmawati Delia Sandhy, Bram Ashido, Farisa Armantya and Wicak Baskoro. The expedition will last for 31 days from 31 July - 31 August 2019.
“This expedition is expected to improve the role of students of UGM that are always committed to science development and applications,” he said.