Lab forest, Banten's other attraction

Retno K. Djojo ,  Contributor ,  Banten   |  Tue, 02/03/2009 3:39 PM  |  Lifestyle

Sand, sea and sunshine usually come to mind when thinking of a holiday in Banten. The tranquil coastline's ability to lure tourists is tried and true. But those who prefer to spend their down time in cooler climates can head to Bantan's Curug Gendong lab forest, which lies mere meters from the beach.

It may sound unbelievable that two distinct climatic environments co-exist in the same geographical vicinity, but that is just the case with the lab forest.

Public van drivers who take passengers to Carita beach are familiar with Curug Gendong. "Walk some 30 meters and you'll be in the forest," said one driver.

This might sound like your average local exaggeration, but after passing an unmanned gate, a whiz of cool air from a front blows away any doubts. Upon entering an area with a cluster of houses, the ground feels soft, quite in contrast to the arid soil along the coast.

With the moist soil under the feet and dense foliage above the head the temperature is much cooler than in the hilly Puncak area or in nearby Bogor. Cool air wafts through the area, bringing relief after the searing heat of the coast.

A sign board in the forested area indicates that this lush green area is just 5 meters above sea level.

The lab forest, under the care of state-owned forestry company PT Perhutani since 1955, comprises of some 3,000 hectares of land.

The area on both sides of the small footpath through the forest is covered with lush vegetation and the ground is notably muddy. A woman carrying a basket with melinjo berries (Gnom gnetum) warned that rain will soon fall; those residing at the rim of the forest have long been accustomed to evening downpours.

Forest ranger Atep Dono, who works for Perhutani, explained that the forest serves as a water catchment area. A watershed area that comes to a crescendo with the Curug Gendong waterfall, some 7 kilometers to the south, keeps the soil moist. Beyond this, the temperature changes drastically.

Under Atep's supervision, the forest has become a nursery for meranti (Shorea selanica) seedlings. The young trees are shipped to Kalimantan to support reforestation in affected areas.

The lab forest also houses a great variety of other trees, including mahogany, for the production of hard timber.

A great variety of endemic plants make up the thick underbrush. A tiny purple flower in the shape of a trumpet with slender pointed leaves could well be a variety of the soil orchid (Spathologlottis plicata). Though still undocumented it is in fact a little known and incredibly beautiful exotic species.

Besides the wood products, the forest yields edible fruits and vegetables including durian, cloves and melinjo. Some 300 families residing near the forested area benefit from the forest's bounty.

They collect the edibles and sell them to tourists at recreation centers in beach areas.

For years, the forest has helped sustain the local economy, highlighting the importance of forest preservation. With the economic crisis biting deeper, the income earned from selling forest products is of great significance.

Atep Dono, who knows every nook and cranny at the forest, explained that to meet increasing demand from tourist, parts of the forest has been converted to make room for a hotel.

Spending the night at Pasanggrahan hotel would allow tourists enjoying a refreshing morning walk in the forest and visit Curug Gendong waterfall before coming down to the beach area

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.