IFSA LC UGM's Concrete Action in Developing Wonosadi Indigenous Forest

PRESS RELEASE

IFSA LC UGM 2024

IFSA LC UGM's Concrete Action in Developing Wonosadi Indigenous Forest

I-FORCE

On June 22, 2024, the International Forestry Students' Association Local Committee Universitas Gadjah Mada (IFSA LC UGM), as an international student organization in the field of forestry, held a community service activity called IFSA Forestry Research of Community Effort (I-FORCE) under the theme “Transforming Community: Global Vision through Local Empowerment Action.” This theme was inspired by our awareness of the importance of concrete actions that can be taken by the forestry student community to enhance both natural and human resources' potential in order to achieve broader recognition and development of forest-based ecotourism, both nationally and globally.

The event, consisting of a series of activities such as the English Club, Local Group Discussion (LGD), and seminar on results (SEMHAS), targeted the community of Wonosadi Village in general and the Wonosadi indigenous Forest Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) in particular, with the aim of supporting the development and management of the indigenous forest and surrounding tourism. To maximize the outcomes of this community service program, we produced outputs in the form of a Road Map and a Booklet containing a guide to tourism and the history of Wonosadi indigenous Forest.

ENGLISH CLUB

Figure 1. Documentation of Organizing Committee and Participants

The ENGLISH CLUB activity began at 9:00 AM WIB, inviting local children aged 8–15 years to learn basic plant-related concepts. The material covered the introduction of components in the plant life system and how these components influence and are applied in planting activities. The session also included basic English vocabulary related to the plant life system. The teaching process started with dividing the participants into 3 groups, each consisting of 8-10 people. The activity had 4 stations, each representing different components of the plant life system, including the Water Station, Soil Station, Plant Station, and Planting Station. After completing the stations, the children received a seedling, intended as a form of practical implementation of their learning. The outcome of the English club provided new insights and knowledge to the children in Wonosadi village through a basic understanding of the plant life system and English vocabulary related to plant parts.

LOCAL GROUP DISCUSSION

Figure 2. Discussion with Mr. Parjan as Speaker

The second series of I-FORCE activities was the Local Group Discussion, which took place at 11:00 AM WIB at the Beji Village Hall. This activity was an initiative of IFSA LC UGM aimed at identifying problems and finding solutions related to ecotourism challenges faced by Wonosadi Tourism Village. The event consisted of two main parts: a talk show, which featured a presentation by Mr. Parjan Siswo Sumarto, Advisor to the Kalibiru Independent Community Forestry Group (HKm), and a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) involving members of the Wonosadi indigenous Forest Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis).

The LGD focused on managing ecotourism in Wonosadi indigenous Forest, one of the region's key assets. During the discussion, it became clear that one of the challenges facing the ecotourism effort was the lack of collaboration between Pokdarwis and the village community. The speaker provided a middle-ground solution to address this issue, which could be implemented by both the village community and Pokdarwis management. At the end of the session, participants were given the opportunity to engage in group discussions and formulate conclusions to be implemented and used for evaluation purposes.

Figure 3. Representative from POKDARWIS share his opinion about the topic discussion

The outcome of the Local Group Discussion provided solution references for the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis) to consider in resolving institutional issues, particularly in enhancing communication, inclusivity of all members, and regular meetings to improve collaboration among members.

PROJECT PRESENTATION

Figure 4. The Explanation of documentary video, a Road Map, and a Tourism Booklet for Wonosadi indigenous Forest.

Project presentation was the closing event of the I-FORCE series. This event featured a presentation session showcasing the work done by the organizing committee. During this session, the I-FORCE committee presented their efforts through a documentary video, a Road Map, and a Tourism Booklet for Wonosadi indigenous Forest.

The documentary video covered the entire series of activities carried out as planned, including the initial survey, observation process, and final publication. The Tourism Booklet provided descriptions of Wonosadi Forest and the tourism packages offered, which included art, traditions, and the natural beauty of Wonosadi Forest. The Road Map complemented the I-FORCE publication by presenting an interactive map depicting routes and tourist attractions in Wonosadi.

The publications presented at the seminar were intended to address the challenges of Wonosadi Ecotourism and align with the outcomes of the I-FORCE activities. Through publications shared on IFSA LC UGM's social media, media partners from the Faculty of Forestry, and IFSA World, Wonosadi Ecotourism gained increased recognition, serving as a promotional platform for Wonosadi indigenous Forest.

FACT ABOUT INDIGENOUS FOREST WONOSADI

Figure 5. Entrance Gate of Wonosadi Indigenous Forest

Wonosadi indigenous Forest, the only indigenous forest in the Special Region of Yogyakarta, is located in Beji, Gunungkidul. Its presence is intriguing, especially in terms of the dynamics and interactions between the local community and forest resources. As a indigenous forest, Wonosadi has specific rules that must be followed, which contribute to its unique existence. In addition to its status as a indigenous forest, the area is surrounded by natural resources of great beauty, offering significant potential as a tourist destination. The tourism offerings vary, ranging from the scenic beauty of Wonosadi Forest to historical landmarks such as the Watu Gendong relic and the cultural traditions of the indigenous community, including the Sadranan ceremony.

Wonosadi Forest is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. The flora found includes various tree species such as ingas (Gluta renghas), pule (Alstonia scholaris), cengkeh (Syzygium aromaticum), kemuning (Murraya paniculata), ketepeng (Senna alata), wungu (Graptophyllum pictum L. Griff) dan lain sebagainya. For the group of shrubs, there are plant larasati, sengganen (Melastoma malabathricum), patama, pringpringan, pakisan (Polypodiophyta), rotan (Daemonorops sp.), and any kind of shrubs. For the group of grasses, it is usually dominated by alang-alang (Imperata cylindrica). (Imperata cylindrica), gajahan (Pennisetum purpureum), pacingan (Agrostis stolonifera), dan marangan (Ficus benjamina). The commonly encountered fauna include bird species such as the kutilang (Sooty-headed Bulbul). (Pycnonotus aurigaster) and alap-alap (Famili Falconidae), insect species such as grasshoppers (Ordo Orthoptera), wasps (Vespa affinis), and centipedes (Kelas Chilopoda), rodent species such as porcupines (Hystrix javanica), squirrel (Tupaia javanica), and mouse (Crocidura umbra), as well as reptiles such as snakes (Suborder Serpentes) or monitor lizards (Suborder Sauria).

Watu gendong

Figure 6. Documentation of Watu Gendong

Watu Gendong is a well-known tourist destination due to the presence of a large stone considered sacred. The name Watu Gendong itself means "the carried stone." This place was given the name because of five large stones spread evenly across a wide area. Local people believe that these stones hold sacred significance and that they originated from Mount Merapi, having been "carried" to their current location.

Petilasan Roro Resmi

Figure 7. Documentation of Committee discussion with local residents at Roro's Resmi hermitage

Petilasan Roro Resmi is a central meeting and cultural activity area in Beji Village. It is commonly used as a welcoming site for tourists or for the opening of cultural events such as Rindhing Gumbeng and the Sadranan Ceremony. This area also features a resting spot shaded by a large, lush tree, providing a serene place for visitors to relax.

Lembah Ngenuman

Figure 8. Documentation of four large trees at Wonosadi Indigenous Forest.

Lembah Ngenumen is located at the peak of Wonosadi indigenous Forest. This area is surrounded by four large trees, which are among the remaining native trees of Wonosadi Forest. Lembah Ngenumen offers beautiful scenery, making it a great spot for taking photos, while also providing a peaceful and enjoyable natural atmosphere.

Mbah Carik’s Grave

Figure 9. Documentation of Mbah Carik’s Grave

The grave of Eyang Wira Kusuma, also known as Mangku Kusuma, is located at the peak of Mount Tutup, in Gedaren Hamlet, Sumbergiri Village, Ponjong, Wonosadi. According to legend, Eyang Wira Kusuma chose this secluded hill as a refuge from the pursuit of the Dutch East Indies army. It is said that to conceal his presence from the Dutch soldiers, the hill was named Gunung Tutup, symbolizing a place hidden from sight and human traces. Surrounded by tranquility and natural beauty, the tomb stands as a silent witness to his struggle and dedication in upholding noble principles amid the threat of colonial forces.

Through the series of community service activities I-FORCE organized by IFSA LC UGM, it is hoped that there will be a tangible contribution to the development and preservation of Wonosadi indigenous Forest and its surrounding tourist attractions. Both physical outputs and the knowledge and insights gained are expected to enhance the tourism potential of Wonosadi indigenous Forest. It is hoped that local wisdom, such as traditional and religious ceremonies and ongoing forest conservation activities, will continue to be preserved and enjoyed by future generations.