This world hornbill conference has been held six times, but this is the seventh time the Indonesian team has sent more than three people. The Indonesian team this time consisted of six participants representing academics, students, NGOs, and companies.
The 7th International Hornbill Conference was held in Kuching, Sarawak on 16-18 May 2017. The conference was a collaboration between Sarawak Forestry and University Malaysia Sarawak with the theme Hornbills, Fly Free, Fly High. This conference certainly carries a heavier burden. Mainly due to the rising status of the Ivory Hornbill (Rhinolax vigil), this ivory-fried hornbill has become Critically Endangered from previously Near Threatened.
The choice of Sarawak as the venue for the conference had been decided long ago during the 6th conference in Manila, Philippines. Sarawak is one of the states of Malaysia located on the island of Borneo (Borneo). Neighbors and share culture with Indonesia through a mixed culture of Malay and Dayak. This state introduces itself as "the land of hornbills" or "Earth full" with the rhinoceros hornbill as a symbol. Unmitigated, once we leave the international airport towards the city, we can already see this rhino horn statue on the side of the flyover. And it's not unmitigated either, the knick-knacks are dominated by this hornbill with the characteristic reddish-yellow tassels sticking out to the top, without any identification. The magical aura of the hornbill, which is considered a god for the Dayak people in Sarawak, is directly reflected in the dances, costumes, and dance accessories. However, the use of hornbill feathers in dance accessories and costumes has begun to turn into faux fur. This at least shows government intervention in hornbill exploitation.
This hornbill conference includes 4 discussion sessions, hornbill conservation status, hornbill biology and breeding, habitat fragmentation and connectivity, and the importance of hornbills in ecosystems, culture, tourism and awareness. With the main distribution in Asia, especially Southeast Asia, this session is an overview of the problems facing the hornbill of Southeast Asia. In hornbill research and conservation actions, Thailand, which has long been commanded by Prof. Pilai Poonswad and India are far superior. The Thai government even has a DNA forensic laboratory for wildlife law enforcement.
How about Indonesia? The Indonesian team's presentation represents the lack of standardized monitoring of hornbills, hornbills in modified habitats such as oil palm plantations and species approach, especially in the Golden Julang (Rhyticeros undulatus) which includes population status on Mount Ungaran and information on genetic variability. How should we represent Indonesia? The question of how hornbills use modified habitats such as oil palm should make us all look in the mirror. Understanding the natural history of hornbills is very important, along with understanding the methods, analysis, and interpretation of data is very important. The hornbill is a species that stays away from disturbed forests. Utilization of modified habitats should be seen as the use of intermediate habitats and not the other way around because incorrect interpretations can provide misguided information. However, the Indonesian team was the only one to present how hornbills use modified habitats. The role of High Conservation Value (HCV) in forest areas should be further explored by also looking at how to better manage modified forest. Natural habitats remain the main habitat for hornbills because in natural habitats are the main sources of availability of nests and natural food sources as the main determinant of the sustainability of hornbill populations.
Indonesia is an archipelago. With 13 types of hornbill spread across various islands, this shows that variations in habitat, climate, and environmental conditions can give a touch on the population dynamics and behavior of hornbills. The Golden Horn in Ungaran, may show different dynamics from the Golden Horn in West Bali even though the nature of this bird as an explorer is the same.
Indonesia, along with several other Southeast Asian countries except Thailand, seems to be still limping in their research and conservation actions. The advantage of Indonesia is that there have been fewer touches of foreign researchers who have been taken over by Indonesian researchers. However, the government's role should be greater in hornbill conservation, especially the ivory hornbill. Indonesia's success in fighting for the ivory hornbill became a decision and resolution at CITES COP 17 years ago absolutely must be followed by the government's seriousness in conserving the ivory hornbill in the field, so that researchers and conservationists do not act alone. In addition, let's also learn from our neighboring countries which are very attached to the values and symbols of pride by studying and keeping hornbills so they can fly to maintain the balance of the forest ecosystem.
Let's get to know our hornbill species!
