A. Legal base, location, and space
The forest group of Nipa-Nipa Mountain of 8.146 ha in Kendari City has been
established as a forest park on July 2, 1995 by decree of Minister of Forestry
no. 289/Kpts-11/95. Beforehand, the Governor of South East Sulawesi Province
had set this area as a forest park on December 6, 1993 through a decree no.
808. Murhum is the name of last king of Buton and the first sultan of Buton.
Before being established as a forest park, the Nipa-Nipa Mountain Forest was
consisted of nature reserve and forest park (± 972 ha), limited production
forest (± 4.209 ha), and fixed production forest (± 2.965 ha). Establishment
of the Nipa-Nipa as a forest park is on the basis of its natural resources
potency like flora and fauna, ecosystem and exciting tourism object as well as
habitat for some endangered animals protected by law. It is also essential as
water regulation, prevention of erosion, flood and sedimentation of Kendari
Bay.
The Murhum Forest Park is geographically positioned between 05°13' -05°24'
southern latitude and 122°29' -122°56' eastern longitude which is
administratively part of Kendari and Mandonga Sub-district of Kendari City, as
well as Soropia Sub-district of Konawe District. Management of the Murhum is
under the authority of RPH Kendari, BKPH Kendari, KPH Kendari.
B. Potency
The Murhum Forest Park is at an altitude of 25 - 500 m, topographically
sloping, hilly and mountainous. Its slope is between 15% - 40 %. With climate
type D, the Murhum average rainfall is 1.900 mm/year. Dry season is from
August until October, with temperature between 19°C - 33°C, and humidity 83%.
The ecosystem of Murhum Forest Park is low land forest and low mountain
forest. Its outside zone is full of undergrowth, underbrush, and other trees
less than 10 cm in diameter. The mid zone is primary forest with the following
flora: iron tree (Metrosideros petiolata), 'eha' (Castanopsis buruana),
'bolo-bolo' (Adenandra celebica, 'bolo-bolo putih' (Thea lanceolata), 'kayu
puta' (Baringtonia racemosa), Parinari sp., 'pandan tikar' (Pandanus
aurantiacus), Parinari sp, various species of palm (Nengelfa sp., Pinanga
caesia, dan Ucuala sp.), and rattan (Daemonorops sp.), rattan bar (Calamus
zolfingeri), rattan l'ambing' (Calamus ornatus var. celebicus).
This area is also the habitat of some wild animals e.g. anoa (dwarf buffalo),
deer, cuscus, Sulawesi civet cat, hornbill, 'kesturi' Sulawesi, sea eagle (Haliastus
leucogaster), and various species of butterfly.
The Murhum Forest park is potential and prospective for recreational place and
nature tourism owing to its location which is near Kendari City. The
interesting objects are waterfall at an altitude of ± 15 m as well as a
beautiful sight of Kendari Bay.
Management of Murhum Forest Park is under the authority of Resort KSDA Soropia
(2 personnel).
C. Accessibility
The Murhum Forest Park is easily accessible by foot through main road in
Kendari City precisely in Kemaraya, Benu-Benua, Tipulu, Sodohoa, Gunung Jati,
and Mangga Dua.
D. Problems
The main problems identified is land squatting by local people for settlement
and for dry-field cultivation. Other problems are clearing forest for
constructing houses (particularly iron wood) and cutting down trees for
firewood. |
