Irfan Rosyadi
Java sparrow Lonchura oryzivora is an endangered bird species, endemic to Java and Bali. The population have been extirpated from their habitat due to poaching activity. The remaining population of Java sparrow in Gunungkidul karst region most are located near farming area. Unfortunately most of local farmers in this area still consider Java sparrow as pest for rice plantation, which lead them to turn a blind eyes for the Java sparrow poaching activities. This project will actively encourage them to participate in Java sparrow conservation such as safeguarding and monitoring the Population. We will also actively educate the locals to reduce the number of conflicts between the locals and Java sparrow through participatory mapping and transfer knowledge to tackle the negative stigma of this particular bird in the locals, primarily rice farmers.
Java sparrow Lonchura oryzivora is an endangered bird species, endemic to Java and Bali. The population have been extirpated from their habitat due to poaching activity. The remaining population in Gunungkidul karst region most are located side by side with farming area. Our survey in 2017-2018 indicates that from 15 formerly flourished bird habitats, only five of them are still occupied by Java sparrow, with the total bird population ranged between 83-123 individuals. This worrying facts leads us to conclude that the bird poaching activity are still happening. Thus being noted, it’s very imperative for us to develop conservation activities to protect the remaining population by involving the local communities.
This project will engage with the local farmers and communities nearest to Java sparrow habitat in gunungkidul. We will actively encourage them to participate in various activities such as safeguarding and monitoring the Java Sparrow Population. We will also actively educate the locals to reduce the number of conflicts between the locals and Java sparrow through participatory mapping and transfer knowledge to tackle the negative stigma of this particular bird in the locals, primarily rice farmers. To achieve that we will conduct several activities, including
1) Collecting baseline information about Java sparrow distribution at the project site,
2) Participative mapping to mitigate conflict between java sparrow and local farmer,
3) Producing awareness material and raising community awareness
4) Bird monitoring and safeguard mechanism training
5) Implementing participative monitoring as well as safeguard mechanism.
During project implementation we will collaborate with local Village Farmers Association to conduct Java sparrow monitoring and conservation activities. Paguyuban pengamat burung Yogyakarta PPBJ (Yogyakarta birdwatching community network) is our partner during bird monitoring and training activity.
We will also collaborate with government as regulation and management authority including local government of Giriwungu and Girikarto village, BKSDA (Government agency for natural resources conservation-ministry of environment and forestry), agriculture field instructor from Ministry of Agricultural.