2 Illegal Paths On Mount Tambora Closed, TN Hall Alerts To Theft Of Genetic Resources

Tambora National Park Office officers and a joint team closed the illegal hiking trail in Oi Bura Village, Tambora/(ANTARA/Balai TN Tambora) District.

The Tambora National Park Center (TN) in West Nusa Tenggara Province has closed two illegal hiking trails that foreign researchers have often used without permission to enter the Mount Tambora conservation area.

Head of the Tambora TN Center Abdul Azis Bakry said the two routes were located in the Pasar Minggu area, Pekat Village, Pekat District, Dompu Regency, and the Oi Bura route, Tambora District, Bima Regency.

"These two routes are often used as alternative access for researchers and foreign tourists who want to reach the Tambora caldera without going through an official licensing mechanism," he said in Dompu, Antara, Monday, November 27.

According to Azis, the closure of the illegal route is a step of controlling and enforcing the practice of research that violates statutory provisions.

"We will not only close illegal hiking trails, but will also take firm action against foreign researchers who enter without permission and have the potential to steal genetic resources and local knowledge of the surrounding community. The Tambora area is a nation's asset that must be jointly guarded," he said.

Balai TN Tambora telah berkoordinasi dengan pemerintah desa, aparat keamanan, serta penyelenggara wisata atau trip organizer (TO) agar tidak lagi memfasilitasi kegiatan penjakit maupun penelitian tanpa izin.

"We have asked all parties to no longer facilitate activities without permission. If violations are found, we will process them according to the rules," he said.

To prevent similar violations, supervision will be tightened through routine patrols and permit checks for every researcher who enters the national park area. Every research activity is mandatory through official licensing from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and is under the supervision of Tambora TN officers.

"This is an important step to protect people's wealth of biodiversity and traditional knowledge from irresponsible foreign exploitation," he said.