Keeping the belt of Semeru Mount

The sweat is pouring from Untungs body. As he never know weary, 64-year man is repeatedly
swinging a hoe to loose his land. The father of three children and two grandchildren that
cultivate extensive land, it is approximately 800 square feet. The Villager of Sumbermujur,
Candipuro District, Lumajang, East Java, is planning to plant his land that he bought 10 years
ago with red pepper. If a few more months drought and chilli plants need water, fortunately no
need to worry.
The water is very good here, never drought. Hopefully later, chilli will be also a good price to
harvest, said Untung told Tempo last Monday.
For the land, he is preparing approxiamtely one thousand of chilli seeds. The seeds are newly
three-leaves were stored in his home. Because the land is not ready and irrigation canal to land
is still closed. If all of them are ready, only opening the waterway of land is located on his land,
the water will be flowing. this water is sourced from up there, from the bamboo forest. It is
called Sumberdeling water source, Said Untung.
According to conservation activist of Sumbermujur, Herry Gunawan, the bamboo forest that
located in the east slope of Semeru Mount, that the breadth is 14 acres. It is estimated that
there are around 1400 of bamboos growing. Each clump can contains 400-500 of bamboo rods.
The diameter of Bamboo clump can reach 2.5 meters. The Bamboo plants often referred to as
the giant reed which is known as a good plant to absorb rainwater. If it planted in rows on the
slopes will be like a belt formation.That is why there is call bamboo plants as mount belts. Its
roots are interrelated and very strong to bind soil. In sum, If there are many thousands of
bamboo clum at the some locations, such as in Sumbermujur, how fortunate citizens are there;
the ground is anti landslides and the water source will be flowing.
The presence of bamboo forest is truly useful for citizens in the Semeru slope, said Herry. It is
not just used to irrigate the fields, the river water of Sumberdeling water source is also used by
Sumberderling residents to wash and bath. The Bamboo forest area is 14 hectares which is
belonging to Sumbermujur village, "said the winner of the best ranking cadres of nature
conservation II from Ministry of Forestry in 2013.
The Bamboo forest has existed since the Dutch colonial era. At that moment its wide was only 9
hectares. And then in 2000, an expansion of land was conducted to be 14 hectares. The
expansion can be conducted after land acquisition by East Java Government and Lumajang
District Government.
For this time, bamboo mixture is planted in the expansion land which most types are jajang
(Gigantochloa hasskarliana) and apus bamboo (Giganrochoa apus). There are 20 types in the
old bamboo forest, including petung bamboo ( Dendrocalamusasper), black petung and green
petung. But this type is still relatively little. This bamboo is planted to close holes area.

The condition of bamboo forest in the Semeru slope which is now lush not created by itself. In
1970, the condition of bamboo forest has damaged. Because, the villagers did not know yet the
advantage of bamboo conservation forest that slashed and cut haphazardly for the purpose to
build houses and other. At that moment, a clump was only 50-150 bamboo stalk.
The awareness appeared after water in the springs of Sumberderling shrinked. Because of that,
their rice field lack of water. After investigated, the discharge of water was only 300-500 liter per
seconds. From there, appeared an idea to mend the bamboo forest to return normal.
Socialiszation to villagers conducted intensively. In 1990, awareness of villagers about
importance of the bamboo forest is increasing. For destruction of the bamboo forest is not
increasing, in 2000 was born ordinance of village. Its contains ban for all of people to chop
bamboo without permission of village government and the group of natural resource lovers.
The violation of this regulation will be sanctioned 50 thousand rupiah.
Herry, was active in natural resource conservation group Kalijamber since 1994, with 25
members never tired to preserve the bamboo forest. After the conditions of bamboo forest
improved, the discharge of Sumberdeling springs is slowly increasing. For this time, it can flow
600-800 liter per seconds. Besides the water discharge improved, the lush bamboo forest being
became habibat of a number of fauna, such as macaques, bat and various species of birds.
In the bamboo forest there is total 100 macaques. The forest bamboo are habibat of longtailed macaques, said Herry. A number of its populations was rapidly increasing than in 2000.
At that moment its number was not more 15 macaques. A number of macaques is continuously
decreasing because the villagers like hunting them. After villagers are given awareness and
stopped hunting, number of macaques are increasing. A total of bats are thousands.
In the Lumajang district, effort to make green mountain through bamboo trees are also
conducted by Laskar Hijau Group. They cultivated bamboo in Lemongan mount slopes ,
Lumajang. One of figure of Laskar Hijau activator, Abdullah Kudus, stated they have planted
3000 petung bamboo seeds in the area since last year. For the belt of mountain, told Abdullah
to Tempo, last week. We will plant ten thousand this black petung seed.
The black petung bamboo, according to Abdullah, bamboo type is enough rare. The presence
of petung bamboo is only in four locations, such as Semeru Mount Slope, Manggarai in the East
Southeast Nusa, Africa and Amazon forest. The black forest bamboo has good conservation
ability for enviroment, like as could saving water in its stalk over 0,8 meter cubic. For the next
five years , the black petung bamboo is expected can be harvested in Lemongan Mount. its
meaning, springs will appear, said Abdullah.
It is still related with ability of bamboo for conservation, Chief of Forestry Service of Goverment
of Lumajang District will plan to create bamboo forest in the Kandangan Village, Senduro subdistrict, it is located in Semeru mount slope. There is about 10 hectares land will be planted
bamboo. This year, 4-5 hectares will start plant and in 2015 is expected will be planted. The
bamboo seed will beplanted is black petung bamboo. The bamboo forest in the Sumbermujur
can maintain the presence of springs is undeniable fact about advantage of bamboo forest, he
said.

Chief of Bamboo Council of East Java, Agung Setiawan justified about ablitiy of bamboo. In his
opinion, bamboo is one of plants that can function as water stock. This plant possess hole in the
stem that will be filled when the rainy season. The rod as high as 20-24 feet with a
circumference of 20 centimeters can save water until 0.56 cubic meters. If a clump of bamboo
rods containing 70, the amount of water contained reaches 39.2 cubic meters. it has only stored
in the trunk, not stored under the root fibers in the ground.
With all of advantages, it is reasonable if Agung, Herry, and Abdullah expect on mass movement
to plant bamboo.