Protecting the forest means protecting the biodiversity within it: Together with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and the Central Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), we developed HIMBA, an app for collecting and managing biodiversity data.The name “HIMBA” comes from Dayak Ngaju language and means jungle.
On June 11th, we conducted a training event for the HIMBA application with BKSDA officers and the community of the Animal-Friendly Village Tahawa (Desa Ramah Satwa Tahawa) in Central Kalimantan. This event was organized in collaboration with UGM and BKSDA Central Kalimantan and attended by approximately 35 people.
The training event was held in two locations, namely the Central Kalimantan BKSDA Hall and the Animal-Friendly Village Tahawa tourism site, which is a village guided by the local BKSDA. The trainers for this session were members of the HIMBA application development team from Gadjah Mada University. The material presented was comprehensive and divided into two sessions: a theory session and a practical session conducted in the Tahawa Village, Pulang Pisau Regency, Central Kalimantan. In addition to receiving theoretical and practical explanations, the BKSDA team and the local community also received a user manual for the HIMBA application information system.
This event aimed to provide a deeper explanation of the use of the HIMBA application to the Central Kalimantan BKSDA team as the application’s operators. Additionally, the training involved the local community to raise awareness about the importance of preserving biodiversity and natural resources in Central Kalimantan through this application.
The Head of Central Kalimantan BKSDA, Persada Agussetia Sitepu, hopes that this application can assist the BKSDA team in managing biodiversity in Central Kalimantan. The Head of LPHD (Village Forest Management Institution), who represents the local community, also appreciates the application and the training:
“Since long ago, the village of Tahawa has always been traversed by the wildlife around here. Therefore, this village has lived side by side with these animals. We are very pleased to be involved in this activity and support the sustainability of the biodiversity in Tahawa Village,” – Tugas B. Setia, Head of LPHD (Village Forest Management Institution).