Nusa Barong

Nusa Barong Island

With an area of 6100 hectares and is located in the Indonesia Ocean, the island of Nature Reserve, Nusa Barong Island now starts to attract attention of tourists. Few people knew that the Nature Reserve in the Nusa Barong Island is a conservation area that should be kept well out from human intervention

In the virtual world, there is an amateur blogger who offers the nusa barong island nature reserve as a tourist destination. there are also travel agencies that tried to get permission from the natural resources conservation division III region jember to make the nusa barong island nature reserve as part of a tour package

" we could not accept not accept the offer ", said head of the natural resources conservation region III jember, east java, Sunandar Trigunajasa. BKSDA is more concern to the conservation than profit oriented that can be drawn from the island.

Mr. Sunandar explained the nusa barong island nature reserve has a specific and unique, both in term of flora and ecosystems. There are four ecosystems on the island; they are coastal ecosystem, brackish forest, swamp forest and lowland rain forest. As for the potential of the flora there are 16 plant species and 20 animal species.

In the Dutch East Indies reign time, Nusa barong island nature reserve was known as the habitat of deer ( Cervus Timorensis ) turtle ( Chelonidae ), as well as several types of sea birds. The hunters had often got into to shoot deer. Finally, in 1920, the Dutch government has issued the Gazette number 736 which sets the island as a nature reserve until now.

This island is also one of  the outer island of Indonesia. if there is damage caused by human intervention, so it would interfere the state sovereign of Indonesia. The damage is easily arising in the area, because soils are delicate enough.

If anyone wants to reach Nusa Barong Island, he or she needs to cross a savage sea to reach the nusa barong island nature reserve from the mainland Jember, East Java. From the coastal of the Puger District the travelling is usually reached by a canoe or a gondola and it takes about 2.5 hours in a condition of little waves. These difficulties actually do not discourage people to visit the island. Mr. Sunandar said there are several types of island visitors.

First, the fisherman who are forced to land there because they keep away from storm. Second, fishing hunter who is also sometimes landed there with the same purpose as the fishermen had. Third, of course are thieves of the island's flora and fauna.

BKSDA had often faced the theft of turtle eggs, bird nets, and sentigi wood that was happened since 1980. In 2011, there were two cases of the turtle eggs thefts were disclosed in kota batu and the puger district, Jember. the number of the turtle eggs stolen was safekeeping about two thousand eggs. Two sellers had confessed for getting the stolen turtle eggs from the nusa barong island nature reserve.

the officers have problems to do the intensive monitoring because of areasand the high cost of transportation. On the island there was no fresh water, so its difficult to build a permanent post. Last time, there was a post in the nusa barong island nature reserve, but it was destroyed by the tsunami waves. So the officers just the camping system and twice a month get into the conservation area.

However, the camping models are not without weakness. The team of BKSDA could at any time get into the conservation area on schedule, especially in December and January, when the arrival peak of the turtles come to the beach and lays their eggs. At December to January the number of  turtles that spawn there can reach 10-20 for every night. The huge waves bring difficult to the officers to enter the nusa barong island nature reserve. On the other hand, sometimes the thieves of the turtle eggs are reckless. They are dared  to swim to the shore of the Nusa Barong Island Nature Reserve.

In spite of the strict protection of Nusa Barong island Nature Reserved from the human intervention, BKSDA does not close them completely. Mr. Sunandar said that there is still an opportunity for researchers who want to visit there. " perhaps it is called a discovering tour". he said. So it is not entirely commercial. A research is needed to find out more biological richness of the Nusa Barong Island Nature Reserve.

Nusa Barong Island is located in Jember regency, East Java, and this island is one of outstanding natural charms in Java. The island is similar to Phi-phi Island in Phuket. The beach and the nature is very amazing, as there is no limits to its beauty.

It may less famous than Sempu island or Karimunjawa island, but the charm of Nusa Barong island is can not be underestimated. It is located in the south of the island of Java and be a part of Jember regency.

This island is one of the outer islands of Indonesia, that located in the Indian Ocean and is bordered by the states of Australia. This uninhabited island is a nature reserve since 1920. In this island, we can be found many species of birds, insects, and plants.

The principal function of this nature reserve is a refuge for ebony leaf monkey (Trachypithecus auratus) which are endangered and have the type of flora including Calophyllum inophyllum, Sonneratia alba, Sterculia foetida, Terminalia catappa, Avicennia spp., Barringtonia spp., Alstonia spanthulatus, Alang-alang – imperata cylindrica, Dillenia sp., Ficus sandpaper, Lumnitzera spp., Pleiornium sp., Rhizophora spp., Supatorium sp., Tamarindus sp., Vatica walichii, Vitex pubescens, Xylocarpus spp.

To reach Barong Island we can start from Tanjung Papuma for about 1-2 hours drive by boat. It is important to be notice that reaching Nusa Barung is not easy, for it has to cross the huge waves in South Sea during the journey. But, after reaching the island, all struggles are worth to fight for. For more details, this route can be broke down into:

Surabaya – Jember by car/Bus 180km

Jember – Puger Village by car 35km

Puger village – Island by boat 4,5km

Nusa Barung is an island that consist of rocky groups that spread beautifully and it has magnificent white sandy beach and natural forest. Moreover, this island is also having unique and endemic flora and fauna with very fresh air indulgent. This virgin island is perfect to refresh body and soul.

The beauty of underwater in this island is way more enchanting. The visitors can do snorkeling around the beach while accompanied by marine fish and beautiful coral reef with blue and sparkling water. However, it is advisable for not to swim too far in the middle, for it has huge waves.

Nusa Barong Island is famous for its cluster of beautiful stones. The stones are large and looming with sturdy, glance looks like a temple. In addition, the beauty of the cliffs around the beach will make you amazed. It is a unique and fascinating.