BENGKULU TO GROW RAFFLESIA TO BOOST ECOTOURISM by Fardah

     Jakarta, Sept 16 , 2015(Antara)- Bengkulu City, dubbed "The Land of Rafflesia," is hosting an international symposium on Rafflesia and Amorphophallus, two of the world's most charismatic yet endangered species, from September 14 to 16, 2015.

        Scientists and researchers from eight countries, including Japan, China, France, and Malaysia, are attending the symposium, which is being jointly organized by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry, and the Bengkulu administration.

         The meeting was originally planned to focus on Rafflesia, but later, the organizing committee decided to also include Amorphophallus as most of the people cannot distinguish between Rafflesia and Amorphophallus, which are among the world's rarest and largest flowers.

        Bengkulu, home to both species of flowers as well as other exotic Sumatran flora, initiated to host the international gathering, which aims to promote ecotourism in the province and to reveal the mystery of these exotic flowers, including why these two generally flourish only in the province.  
      The symposium examines various research and conservation activities conducted on Rafflesia and Amorphophallus by researchers and practitioners in various countries.

         Bengkulu's tropical forests have four species of Rafflesia, namely Rafflesia arnoldii, which is the province's icon, Rafflesia hasselti, Rafflesia gadutensis and Rafflesia bengkuluensis.

         Amorhphophallus spp species include Titanum, Variabilis, Phaeonifolius and Gigas.    
    Of 32 Rafflesia species, 22 species of Rafflesia are found in Indonesia, spreading across the islands of Sumatra, Java and Borneo.

       Bengkulu Province is one of few habitats of the world¿s largest and rarest gigantic Rafflesia species that are only found in southeastern Asian forests of Malaysia, Indonesia, Borneo and the Philippines.

         Rafflesia is the official state flower of Indonesia, the Sabah state in Malaysia, and also for the Surat Thani Province of Thailand.

        At the opening of the symposium on Sept. 15, Governor of Bengkulu Junaidi Hamsyah challenged scientists and researchers to create a new habitat, which is accessible to the public, such as in the Rajolelo forest park.

        "Now, if we want to see Rafflesia flowers, we have to go deep into the forest, and if we are lucky, we could find one in bloom," Hamsyah pointed out.

        The planting of the rare Rafflesia flowers in the Rajolelo forest park located in Central Bengkulu District, some 10 kilometers from Bengkulu City, will significantly boost tourism, the governor noted.

       "We hope this symposium can help support regional development, particularly tourism promotion," he said.

       Rajolelo could be suitable for Rafflesia flower because its agro-climate is similar to the Taba Penanjung sanctuary, which is the habitat of Rafflesia and located in Central Bengkulu District, Agus Susatya, researcher of Rafflesia from the University of Bengkulu, said.    
  "The Amorphophallus flower has been cultivated in Rajolelo, so it is also possible to grow the Rafflesia there," he stated.

       Furthermore, Governor Junaidi Hamsyah also suggested the creation of a calendar informing when Rafflesia flowers will bloom, to help tourists plan their visits to Bengkulu.

       "So far, we do not have means to know when Rafflesia flowers will bloom. Therefore, we should come up with a Rafflesia flower bloom calendar to attract tourists," the governor said here recently.

       He hoped that the symposium could yield recommendations about ways to preserve the two rare flowers and also formulate a Rafflesia calendar.

       "Scientists could study or predict when those flowers will bloom, so that an annual calendar could be drafted," he stated.

       On the sidelines of the symposium, the LIPI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, launched a strategic document on conservation of Rafflesia spp and Amorphophallus spp.

       The head of Research and Development in the Ministry of Environment, Hendri Bastaman, said the two rare flowers were the first ones to be covered by such a strategic document on conservation.

       He said the document, applicable until 2025, mentions the role of various stakeholders, including the community, in the preservation and utilization of these two flowering species.

       In fact, not many people know that microbes existing in Rafflesia and Amorphophallus contain anti infection and anti cancer agents and their fibre is good for digestion, according to LIPI researcher, Prof. Dr. Enny Sudarmonowati.

       The benefits and reproduction system of those to flowers are still mysteries to many people, she said.

       "Rafflesia arnoldii has been repeatedly cultivated in Bogor Botanical Garden but the flowering did not take place," she said.

       Also, she said, this flower's benefits were not known in detail, unlike the benefits accruing from the microbes of Amorphophallus, as discovered by researchers in Japan.

       A researcher from the University of Bengkulu, Agus Susatya, said Rafflesia has a unique deployment system.

       "It is not yet revealed how Rafflesia spreads from one habitat to another," he said, adding that agro-climatic conditions which favor the growth of the flower, need to be researched.

       Being discovered for the first time by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and British botanist Josepth Arnold in Bengkulu, in 1818, Rafflesia is a parasitic flowering plant with no visible leaves, roots, or stem.

       It is an endoparasite of vines spreading its roots inside the tissue of the vine to obtain water and nutrients. It is totally dependant upon a vine
called Tetrastigma, which is related to the grapevine.

       The only part of the plant that can be seen outside the host vine is the five-petaled flower.

       When in bloom, the Rafflesia emits a foul odour, similar to that of rotting meat which gives this flower its local names which mean corpse flower or meat flower. This odour attracts insects such as flies and carrion beetles, which transport pollen from male to female flowers.

       The Rafflesia can only be seen when it is ready to reproduce. At this stage a tiny bud forms on the stem of the vine which develops for a period of about a year (nine to 12 months) resembling a cabbage. This cabbage-like bud will open up to reveal the massive five-petaled flower. ***1***
(T.F001/A/BESSR/F. Assegaf) 16-09-2015 15:38:52