Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA) – Tua Tunu Botanical Garden in the city of Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, and Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) are studying an endangered forest rambutan endemic to Bangka Island, an official said.
“We are working with BRIN to research and conserve the forest rambutan, an endemic plant,” said Sugiantoro, head of the botanical garden team.
The forest rambutan, Nephelium cuspidatum, is threatened with extinction on Bangka Island as forests are converted for palm oil and rubber plantations, mining and settlements.
“Currently, Tua Tunu Botanical Garden has only three forest rambutan trees. They must be protected and conserved to prevent the endemic species from disappearing,” he said on Friday, August 14.
Sugiantoro welcomed BRIN’s research into conserving and utilizing the rare forest rambutan, saying the species should remain available for future generations in the region.
“The forest rambutan fruit is similar in shape to ordinary rambutan, but its outer skin has sharp, small spine-like projections,” he said.
BRIN previously studied Garcinia klabang, another rare fruit plant endemic to Bangka Island that was declared extinct before being rediscovered at Tua Tunu Botanical Garden.
“Thankfully, BRIN’s research on Garcinia klabang succeeded, and we are now developing and conserving this endemic plant,” Sugiantoro said.
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Translator: Aprionis, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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