UTILIZATION OF FLORA AND FAUNA AS ECOTOURISM ATTRACTIONS IN ALAS KEDATON TABANAN TOURISM OBJECT, BALI

UTILIZATION OF FLORA AND FAUNA AS ECOTOURISM ATTRACTIONS              IN ALAS KEDATON TABANAN TOURISM OBJECT, BALI

By

I Ketut Sundra.

Department of Biology, Faculty. MIPA UNUD

ABSTRACT

Tourism object, Alas Kedaton is a forest area which was designed as ecotourism region which expected to generate integration among various socials aspects such as, education, socials, cultural, economic and conservation. As a tour package, this object is particularly aimed to offer a dynamic and homeostatic ecosystem. Accordingly, this study is aimed to see the variability of plants (flora), animals (fauna) species which lived in Alas Kedaton Tourism area and also to see the interaction of those two organisms. This tourism activity was then correlated with social factors such as, cultural, economic and public welfare of people who organize this tourism area. This study found that Alas Kedaton Tourism Area has 40 species of flora, which consisted of 26 species (85%) classified as rare flora. Therefore, these species are protected by law. Among those species, 3 species are classified as nationally rare species, i.e. Bayur (Pterospermum diversifolium), Sawo kecik (Manilkara kauki) and Pule (Alstonia scholaris). The Alas Kedaton Tourism Area was also found to have 28 species of fauna, consisting of 15 bird species, 10 mammal species and 3 species of reptiles. These 3 reptile species are not classified as rare fauna. The two most fascinating species found in the area were Macaca presbitis, apes with grey colour and long tail and Pteropus electo (bats). Various plants species found in the area are very important for fauna as a source of food and as a place to live. For examples, young leaves and mature fruits of those plants are food for monkey and trees are the place for the bats to live. Collectively, this study concluded that Alas kedaton still has a stable ecosystem.

Keywords: Tourism object, Alas Kedaton, Ecotourism, Flora and Fauna.