Utilization of waterbirds by Ujungpangkah Community, Gresik Regency, East Java

Abstract

Mangrove ecosystem at Ujungpangkah is essential ecosystem and important areas for water bird habitat. Certain types of waterbirds are used by local community as protein substitude, but lately people also exploiting waterbirds for economic needs. As the consequences, populations and kind of species in the research area tend to decrease. This research aims to determine the diversity of water bird species that are utilized, to analyze water bird utilization rate, to analyze the water bird distribution and marketing network, and to create strategies for controlling water bird utilization. This research conducted in Pangkah Kulon village and Pangkah Wetan village, Ujungpangkah, East Java on February - March 2018 using interview to local people with purposive sampling and direct technique. The resuls showed, according to 95 respondents, 19 species waterbirds from 10 families are used. The form of utilization in order of the largest to smallest percentage are for consumption, for sale and as tourist attraction. Distribution and marketing water-birds meat are from hunter directly to the individual community and/or to the restaurant that provides birds menu.