%20Biodiversity monitoring

The project
Significance and aims
Results
Plans and needs



Project name: Biodiversity monitoring		Location: Tomohon/Masarang mountain, North Sulawesi

The project

Masarang collects all kinds of data about the dissemination of animals, plants and trees. For example, the heights and soil types where certain plants grow and in what time of year and what type of forest certain animals live. All of these data is logged in a biodiversity database. This data is collected and processed by the regular Masarang staff and also by university students, who camp regularly in the forest area for this purpose. Every year they also observe the bird migration, because the Masarang reforestation project has also become a gathering place for migrating birds of prey.

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Screenshot biodiversity database

Significance and needs

The loss of biodiversity and the accelerated rate of extinction of animals and plants is one of the largest environmental disasters and threats to mankind at the moment. Obtaining information about the ecosystem is a powerful tool to monitor and protect biodiversity.

The biodiversity database follows the development of plants and animals and their interdependence. This information can enable existing ecosystems to be strengthened.

With this project we gain more knowledge about the formation of an ecosystem in a newly planted forest and how an ecosystem that has disappeared can be best reestablished.

With this information, one can examine how endangered animals and plants can be protected effectively

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Results

A unique biodiversity database has been established that is a powerful tool for capturing the development of biodiversity (biodiversity means stability)

Expeditions are carried out by various groups from North Sulawesi and a part of the collected plants and trees has been planted in the arboretum on the Masarang mountain as living collection.

We have collected orchids, various fruit tree species, wood trees and are now working on a program to map all Nepenthes (carnivorous plants)

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Plans and needs

This project is very important because the loss of forests still happens at a dramatically fast rate in Sulawesi. We want to establish a special biodiversity fund to:

Make more excursions and to collect more plants
Plant these living plants in the arboretum and the greenhouses of Masarang
To produce education materials for local schools about biodiversity (amphibians, insects, plants, trees, birds, etc.)
To allow students to study taxonomy and ecology
To be able to regularly invite teachers such as Dr. Max van Balgooy to help the ITM University with its curriculum
Occasional presentations to international seminars

Project leaders
Biodiversity research is carried out by permanent staff:
Rudy Watulangkow
Jance Pitoy
Victor
and students from various universities

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