TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Nepenthes is a type of carnivore plants originated from Indonesia. Some species of Nephentes are currently endangered and has a limited distribution. The Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) has officially opened a conservation site for Nepenthes at the Cibodas Botanical Garden in Bogor.

The Head of Cibodas Botanical Garden Plants Conservation, Agus Suhatman, said that natural habitations of Nepenthes are in the secondary forests, swamp forests, and heath forests. These forest areas are likely turned into farm or human settlements so that habitations for Nepenthes are reduced.

"This becomes the first Nepenthes collection of all botanical garden in Indonesia," said Agus after the inauguration and the 162^nd anniversary of Cibodas Botanical Garden on Friday.

The Nepenthes conservation site which has been initiated since 2009 has now 48 species and 47 hybrids collections originated from Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and Papua.

Among the collections are species that listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), namely Nepenthes villosa, Nepenthes iowii, Nepenthes aristolochiodes, and Nepenthes dubia.

In building and collecting the Nepenthes, LIPI has been working together with Indonesia Carnivourous Plants Community (KTKI). "Indonesia is a Nepenthes heaven. As many as 80 percent of world's Nepenthes, including its hybrids, exist here," said John Muhammad, KTKI's Chief on Duty. "Philippines can produce 10 new species in five years. Indonesia should be better," said John who considered that the research and developments for Nepenthes is still lacking in Indonesia.

Some of the Nepenthes collections of Cibodas Botanical Garder are donations from KTKI members. "We have collections and Cibodas has the place, so it's a match up," said Putra Setiawan one of KTKI members. "We ask our members to donate one of their collections each."

GABRIEL WAHYU TITIYOGA