"giant" Trees Of Tropical Rain Forests In South Kalimantan Are Registered To UNESCO Global Geopar

A giant tree in Aranio sub-district, Banjar (ANTARA)

BANJARMASIN - The enormous "giant" trees towering upwards the skies of tropical rainforests in Bukit Meratus, Aranio sub-district, Bajar Regency, South Kalimantan were submitted to UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG).

"giant" trees that are more easily seen thrive in the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest in Belangian Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency.

The village, which is located at the foot of the Meratus mountains, was also far away, because it had to use a boat in Riam Kanan Reservoir as the only access.

To get to the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest, which has been designated as the Maratus Mountains Geopark site, if taken from Banjarbaru City, it is about 25 kilometers away using motorized vehicles.

It only reached the end of the asphalt road in Tiwingan Village, or the Water Power Plant Dam (PLTA) area, then continued the journey using a engine boat or called a "kelotok".

Sailing towards Belingian Village from Tiwingan Village with the river transportation for about 2 hours along beautiful views of the mountains, forests, and clear water.

Arriving in Belangian Village, we will meet with a cool and beautiful atmosphere with quite heavy river currents because it flows from the mountains, as the village ends in the Riam Kanan Reservoir area. To get to the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest area, you need to travel again.

Travel can take advantage of motorcycle taxi services from the community, it can also be taken on foot for more than two hours, but if you use a motorized vehicle or drive a motorcycle taxi for only about 30 minutes.

Road infrastructure to the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest area is quite good. The South Kalimantan Provincial Government, through the provincial forestry service, has built concrete road infrastructure and precess bricks.

In fact, in the middle of the journey, there are places to rest that are quite good, not far from the ripple river or rocky river that flows strongly with very clear water.

The journey was also very challenging, apart from passing through a fairly long suspension bridge over a rocky river, several quite steep climbs were also found.

Views of residents' plantations, such as durian plants, rubber, avocado, and others will be found along the way.

Along the road will be found large black stones or mountain stones surfaced on land that come from nowhere, like a small rock that is scattered.

The stunning sight of natural wonders on the slopes of the Meratus mountains which have also been included in the Great Forest Park (Tahura) area of Sultan Adam, South Kalimantan, will be found many, both plants and animals.

Visitors will encounter animals that are rarely found in public places, including large trees.

One of the largest possibly large trees, called the "Benung Laki" tree or Duabanga Moluccana from the Lythraceoa family.

The bottom of the tree is very large, even if six people line up there is still room, it is estimated that the tree is more than 50 meters towering above the sky, with very thick leaves.

The tree thrives and sustains on a rocky black soil, as if it is not easily collapsed, showing how great the Creator created by the Almighty.

"There are dozens of trees like this in this forest area," said Belangian Village Head Aunul Khoir on November 28, 2023 when met by ANTARA at that location.

He called the tree "Betung Laki" because at the bottom of the tree or around the root a bulge appeared similar to a male reproductive device.

The tree became very large, presumably hundreds of years old, until it became part of the Meratus Mountains Geopark website which was set nationally in 2018.

Efforts to preserve

The Beringian Village Government noted that the village community really pays attention to nature's sustainability, including the large trees in the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest.

Therefore, no trees have been cut or turned off, because nature's sustainability has been believed to be a gift from the Creator.

In fact, for the preservation of the large trees there is maintenance and guarding of every resident on a tree.

This is one of the efforts of the residents of Belangian who are already very aware of environmental sustainability in their area.

Because forests are part of life that provides many benefits, not only for the economy, but also for health with clean oxygen production.

The existence of shady trees around the village is very important, the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest is part of Earth's lungs for the creatures of life in the world. Kahung Forest Site In a statement from the Meratus Mountains Geopark Management Agency, the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest Site is a biological site administratively located in Beringian Village, Aranio District, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan Province, as one of the 54 National Meratus Mountains Geopark Sites.

This site is part of the journey of the eastern route with the theme "Servings impresses penetrating the history of the earth and humans", which means Bukit Matang Keladan is like a tower of sight to enjoy the expanse of artificial lakes (Badik Riam Kanan which was inaugurated in 1973).

The lake holds the history of a village that is drowned with all its stories. Lakes that hold the history of the Earth with a volcano on the seabed, petisalasan ak batu, to diamonds. The lake also provides a future for those who survive.

The locations consisting of several rock products produced by Earth (geology) originating from the Ultramafic rock group aged 135 million to 180 million years ago (central judge), the Diorite group aged 143 million to 57 million years ago (initial Cretaceous) and the Basal group 59 million to 65 million years ago (initial Cretaceous) which can be found along the way.

Some natural phenomena of Earth events (geology), such as various rocks, also have faults / faults with horizontal fault types which are the result of the process of forming the Meratus Mountains.

The fault can be found along the river to the forest area, and at the top there is a Kahung valley waterfall consisting of pillow-structured Basal rocks and Kahung mountains with a height of about 1456 meters above sea level.

In addition to the phenomenon of natural events, biodiversity is also found in the area typical of the Meratus mountains, various Malay trees, such as Binung Laki, Meranti, Mawai, Beringin, Rawali, as well as several types of orchids and fungi (tender shelters).

As for fauna, black monkeys, martil head worms and several species of frog and snake can be found.

A waterfall

The Kahung Tropical Rain Forest Area not only shows the beauty of the forest with all flora and fauna, but also the presence of waterfalls and ripple rivers full of rocks.

According to the records of the Beringian Village Government, there are two very exotic waterfalls to visit in the forest area that is still sustainable.

The closest location is about 20 meters of the height of the waterfall, while the farthest is even higher.

It is not easy to get to the two waterfalls. If you take it on foot, it can take hours with hilly obstacles and dense forests.

Even so, it does not mean that not many people visit him, because many nature lovers or students travel and spend the night in the Kahung waterfall area.

Former students who love nature (Mapala) of the Faculty of Law, Lambung Mangkurat University (ULM) Banjarmasin Hendra Winata and Farid Ahmad, who have explored the Kayung forest several times and encountered waterfalls, admit that it is very beautiful.

They admit that the water is very clear and can be drunk immediately, because nature is still sustainable.

For those who have already been to that location, they will certainly miss him to come back, because the atmosphere of nature is very cool and beautiful.

More than all of that, the preservation of nature in the Kahung Tropical Rain Forest so that it needs to be submitted to the Unesco Global Geopark is not only the responsibility of the people of Belangian Village, but also for all parties. The preservation of Meratus forests and mountains is a shared responsibility.