TEMPO.CO, Mataram - The West Nusa Tenggara Branch of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA NTB), along with the Indonesian Science Institute (LIPI), the Environment and Forestry Ministry, and the Geological Museum of the Geological Agency, conducted surveys in Moyo Island (Sumbawa) and Satonda Island (Dompu) to discover maritime potentials of the two islands.
“[The two islands] have huge maritime potentials. When they are inaugurated as national parks, we can gain educational and other benefits from the two islands,” Geological Museum functional engineer Heryadi Rachmat toldTempo on Thursday, May 5, 2016.
According to Heriyadi, Satonda Island was formed due to Tambora Eruption in 1815. The volcanic island is located across Sumbawa Island. The 4.8-square kilometer island boasts a salt water lake that follows the ocean tides patterns. The phenomenon has been dubbed as one of the wonders of the world.
Moyo Island, located in western side of Satonda Island, has a size of 30,000 hectares boasting 22,250-hectares of hunting range and 6,000 hectares of sea park. Moyo Island was internationally acknowledged Princess of Wales Lady Diana visited the island. International celebrities are now making this island as their holiday destination.
As a hunting range, Moro Island has a huge wildlife potential and is a habitat for deer, wild boars, bulls, grey monkeys, incubator birds, snakes and butterflies. In addition to boasting a huge savannah, the island is also a habitat of various decorative fishes.
Around the Gedal Brang Sedo waters visitors can enjoy night diving and Wreck Dive, exploring a World War II Japanese shipwreck. The Wreck Dive can be accessed by taking a boat from Gedal Brang Sedo.
LIPI’s expedition team in 1993 discovered 3-kilometer coral reef slope in Ai Manis, as well as others in Branka, Sebotok and Satonda. The coral reef slope is almost stacked vertically to 40-meter depth. On the wall of the coral reef, small interesting caves can be found.
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID
