Bachelor Degree of Biology Education Study Program FKIP UNS Held Training on Monitoring Priority Wildlife Conservation in the Mount Merbabu National Park Area

FKIP – Through the Biosystematic and Ecological System Studies Research Group, the Bachelor Degree of Biology Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Sebelas Maret University (UNS) Surakarta collaborated with the Gunung Merbabu National Park to carry out training activities for monitoring priority animals Rekrekan. Rekrekan or its Latin name Presbytis comata fredericae is a unique monkey that is endemic to the status of critically endangered.

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Rekrekan has a social system by forming small groups. Its habitat is very limited, mostly found living in tall trees with an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level and has a slope between 25-35 degrees. Rekrekan monkeys have been designated as protected animals according to the Minister of Forestry Regulation no. P.57/Menhut-II/2008 concerning strategic directions for national species conservation 2008-2018. Referring to the minister’s decision and the uniqueness of Rekrekan, the Mount Merbabu National Park Office has made the monkey a priority for conservation.

The training lasted for five days from Wednesday-Monday (11-16/8/2021) which was located directly in the Rekrekan habitat forest in the Selo Resort area, Mount Merbabu National Park in Boyolali Regency. The training materials cover the theory and practice of the transect-based population census method, measuring the presence and distribution of Rekrekan in their habitat. The training activities were attended by four forest ecosystem management staff, four forest rangers, four interns, and four volunteers. UNS sent one field lecturer on behalf of Puguh Karyanto, S.Si, M.Sc., Ph.D., and five trained students. The activity took place with full financial support from the Research Group Grant through the UNS Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM).

According to Puguh, this activity went well.

“The priority animal monitoring training activity is going very well. The activity has been able to equip stakeholders in the Mount Merbabu National Park with technical skills that can be practiced to monitor the priority wildlife of Rekrekan in the forest area of Mount Merbabu National Park. With these technical skills, the accuracy of the data provided during independent monitoring can provide good information and can meaningfully support the planned management efforts,” said Puguh.