A Week in Nabire

The dark night sky at Soekarno Hatta Airport at that time began the journey of Aulia Bahadhori Mukti or familiarly called Mas Aul to Central Papua Province along with other BPH teams. This trip aims to carry out the Peat Ecosystem Characteristics Inventory project in the work area of a palm oil company in the Peat Hydrological Unit (KHG) of Ajari River – Kubai River, Nabire Regency. Mas Aul and his team took off from Soekarno Hatta Airport at 23.00 WIB and arrived at Sentani Airport in Jayapura the next day at 06.00 WITA. From Sentani Airport, they flew to Nabire Airport at 09.00 WITA. Arriving at Nabire Airport, Mas Aul and the team were taken to the survey location using a pick-up car. During the road trip, the natural beauty of Papua became apparent. Clean white sandy beaches, surrounded by lush mangrove forests, provide a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

The second day in Nabire began with an energetic morning. At 08.00 am, Mas Aul and the team held a meeting to convey the technical plan for data collection. Right after lunch, Mas Aul and the team continued the activity by conducting an overview of the survey path to the peat area where the data was collected in preparation for the field activities the next day. In the afternoon, in between breaks, Mas Aul and the team took the time to interact with local communities who shared their knowledge and experience in maintaining and managing peatlands. These interactions provided valuable insights into traditional practices that contribute to the sustainability of these ecosystems.

The third and fourth days in Nabire, Mas Aul and the team carried out data collection. Data collection started from 08.00 WITA to 16.00 WITA in the peat area. This activity includes collecting data and information about the location, existence, and condition of peatlands. It also included physical, chemical, biological, hydrotopographic characteristics, and the type of sediment beneath the peat. For laboratory analysis, Mas Aul and his team took soil and water samples from various points. Throughout the day, they traversed the peatland, which is full of biodiversity, witnessing the various types of plants and animals that live there.

One of the many plants encountered that caught Mas Aul’s attention was the Terantang (Campnosperma brevipetiolatu). This plant is commonly found around the observation point and is characteristic of peat ecosystem plants located around the lowland swamp forest located not far from the observation point. The majority of the terantang encountered had perforated leaves. This is an interesting topic to explore. As for animal observations, no protected animals were found through direct observation. However, based on the narrative of residents, animals that are often seen adjacent to lowland swamp forests are cockatoos (Cacatus moluccensis).

The fifth day in Nabire, Mas Aul and the team continued data collection to the peat area. Because there was not as much data collection as yesterday, today’s fieldwork only lasted until noon. The rest of the day was focused on recapitulating the data that had been collected. The team also formulated recommendations for building drainage systems and sustainable peat management.
The sixth day in Nabire was used to discuss field findings and conclude field data collection activities. The meeting went well that day. The rest of the time was spent by Mas Aul and the team to enjoy the atmosphere of Nabire before finally leaving the district tomorrow morning. For Mas Aul himself, this trip was very memorable because it was his first experience visiting and seeing peat ecosystem areas in the Papua region. The community has traditional knowledge on how to manage and utilize peatlands sustainably. One example is the water management technique in peatlands, where they build small canals that function to regulate water circulation. This water circulation will keep the peatland moisture stable, prevent drought, and support plant growth. In addition, a strong culture of mutual cooperation and nature-related rituals and customs are still frequently practiced by local communities. The combination of biodiversity, vital ecological functions and cultural values makes Nabire’s peatlands a unique and valuable area.
The next day, Mas Aul and his team prepared to leave Nabire, which had become their home for the past few days. If on departure they landed at Sentani Airport in Jayapura, this time they flew out of Papua from Mozez Kilangin Airport in Mimika. Once there, Mas Aul and the team waited for the flight schedule inside the airport, which is the largest in Indonesia. At 12.00 WITA, the plane carrying Mas Aul and the team took off for Soekarno Hatta Airport, Tangerang. The arrival of Mas Aul and the team at Soekarno Hatta Airport marked the end of their journey in Nabire. It was a pleasant one-week trip to a district known as a hidden paradise in the Land of Papua.
That’s all for this Bhumi Bercerita series! Stay tuned for the next series, Bhumi Friends!
Thank you and see you soon.

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