By Satrio Adi Wicaksono, Forest And Landscape Restoration Manager, WRI Indonesia.

Many people may not know know that the island of Java has a savannah ecosystem like the African Continent or Sumba Island. Baluran National Park in Situbondo Regency of East Java has a natural savannah so unique that it was nicknamed "Little Africa van Java". In addition to having a savannah ecosystem inhabited by large mammals such as Javanese banteng (Bos javanicus), wild buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), and Javanese deer (Rusa timorensis), the landscape of Baluran National Park is also decorated with other ecosystem typologies, ranging from tropical to mangrove forests. The variety of uniqueness made Baluran National Park one of the biospheres preserved by UNESCO.

When I visited Baluran National Park to attend the summit of National Nature Conservation Day (HKAN) in 2017, I came to understand why many are fascinated by its natural beauty. From inside a car, visitors can watch deer running around in Bekol Savannah, disturbing the tranquility of long-tailed monkeys mingling, and one or two peacocks feeding among the grass. Moreover, I went there in the dry season when the meadows looked yellow, very much like the African savannah ecosystem. This is a true safari.

<p>Javanese deer grazing in Bekol Savannah in the afternoon</p>

Javanese deer grazing in Bekol Savannah in the afternoon

Unfortunately, the Baluran central savannah ecosystem is threatened. The existence of invasive foreign species Vachellia nilotica (formerly known as Acacia nilotica) has caused the destruction of various types of grass, the main component of the Baluran savannah, so the savannah gets reduced. According to one of the Baluran National Park staff I encountered, there are only 3,000 hectares of savannah left, a third of its original size in the 1960s. Due to this widespread savannah decline, the quality of the Baluran National Park ecosystem has also declined. As a result, fewer large mammals are found in the park: there are currently only about 28 bulls left.

From the Bekol viewing tower, I observed the twilight in Bekol Savannah. The combination of various gradations of blue and red in the sky contrasted with Bekol's brown landscape decorated with green trees. If there was no Vachellia nilotica invasion, I’m sure Bekol Savannah would be even wider and more beautiful.

<p>View of Bekol Savannah at dusk from the top of the viewing tower</p>

View of Bekol Savannah at dusk from the top of the viewing tower

In some corners of Bekol Savannah, I witnessed the remnants of burnt Vachellia nilotica. From my discussions with the park staff, I learned that the Baluran National Park office has been controlling Vachellia nilotica since the 1980s. The Baluran National Park office routinely conducts slash-and-burns, and then smears the remnants with herbicides. Unfortunately, such efforts are not entirely effective, as Vachellia nilotica seeds are quickly dispersed from being carried by various types of animals. In addition, Vachellia nilotica has a high degree of dormancy and growth rate.

<p>Vachellia nilotica remnants from burning in Bekol Savannah</p>

Vachellia nilotica remnants from burning in Bekol Savannah

In the HKAN summit event at Baluran National Park, the Situbondo Regent stated that the people of Situbondo are ready to assist the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) in overcoming the invasive species problem in the park. The community is ready to be actively involved so that the savannah in Baluran Naitonal Park can still be a tourist icon of Situbondo Regency. Moreover, Vachellia nilotica seeds can be used as a mixture of coffee and vegetable materials and the manufacture of tempeh. Even the skin of seeds and fruit can be organic fertilizer. This is very interesting, because it means that the community involvement plan in overcoming Vachellia nilotica also has an economic incentive to improve people's livelihood.

The community's active involvement in ecosystem restoration can be the beginning of a new spirit of Indonesian conservation that places the community as the subject. Working with all stakeholders, including me and all of you, in protecting conservation areas should improve not only the quality of the ecosystem of the conservation area and its buffer zone, but also the quality of life of the people who have long lived in and around it. Hopefully when I visit Baluran again, I’ll be able to see a lot of Javanese bulls roam a Bekol Savannah free from invasive species.