Spatial distribution and characteristics of destructive activities in Tahura Gunung Menumbing, West Bangka

Abstract

Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Gunung Menumbing is a well-known protected area in West Bangka, Indonesia for its uniqueness of plants and animals that represent the low-land forest ecosystems of Bangka-Belitung Island. However, the biodiversity of Tahura Gunung Menumbing is currently facing threats from illegal encroachments. This research aims to map the spatial distribution of those illegal encroachments and investigate their characteristics such as dominances, frequencies, and time of activity. We interviewed 48 respondents that were selected by the snowball sampling technique. These respondents consisted of farmers, illegal tin miners, and poachers. The results showed that the spatial distribution of illegal encroachments such as illegal tin mining, wildlife hunting, and illegal agriculture mainly occurred on the west side of Tahura Gunung Menumbing. Illegal agriculture practices for rubber and oil palm were the most dominant activities (69%), while illegal tin mining and wildlife hunting contributed 25% and 6%, respectively. Illegal tin mining and agriculture practices almost occurred every day throughout the day. The findings of our study showed that Tahura Gunung Menumbing is facing serious threats and thus the biodiversity is potentially declining in the future. Therefore, conservation actions to preserve the biodiversity in Tahura Gunung Menumbing are urgently needed.