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10 Iconic Flora & Fauna of the Citarum River Basin: A Showcase of Biodiversity (Part 2)

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Trees and Plants

The landscape of the Citarum Basin boasts a rich diversity with at least 1,000 tree species and 3,000 flowering plants. Some of these species are deeply woven into the local culture, passed down through generations. Many of them also hold significant value that supports the local people’s livelihoods.

Tarum areuy (Indigofera)

This species refers to the indigo tree, from which the name Citarum is derived. Once abundant along the riverbanks, locals used it as a natural dye for fabrics. They also used the leaves as organic fertilizer and livestock fodder, while the root network was effective in preventing soil erosion. However, the tree is now slowly disappearing due to environmental degradation and extensive development.

Sugar palm (Aren)

The sugar palm tree (known locally as aren or tangkal kawung) thrives abundantly in the basin. Apart from its ecological function of conserving water, the tree provides communities with income derived from its sap, fruit, palm fibers, and leaves. The locals in the areas surrounding Trees4Trees’ tree-planting sites benefit from making traditional sugar from the sap.

Rasamala

The rasamala tree is an evergreen that grows plentifully in the mountainous areas of West Java, including Trees4Trees’ planting sites. Several mountains in West Java are habitats for rasamala trees. These trees provide homes for more than 20 bird species, including the rare bird species like Javan hawk-eagle, and endemic primate, the Javan gibbon (owa jawa). The trees also produce aromatic resin commonly used as a room fragrance, providing a source of income for local people.

Saninten

The saninten tree, or forest rambutan tree, is an endemic species endemic to Indonesia, particularly found on the islands of Java and Sumatra. It thrives in mountainous regions. The nuts hold significant economic value, often processed into traditional snacks and sold by local communities. The trees are still relatively abundant in West Java, including in areas where Trees4Trees plants. Unfortunately, in Sumatra, the tree is listed as endangered due to deforestation and land conversion into plantations.

Puspa

The puspa tree belongs to the tea family. People also call it needle wood or Chinese guger tree. It is renowned for its resistance to various soil conditions, climates, and habitats, making it a popular choice for land degradation restoration projects. The puspa tree is native to South Asia, China, and Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, the dispersion of puspa trees spread in Java island, particularly in West Java, making them an iconic tree of the region.

Trees4Trees’ reforestation efforts in the Citarum Basin aim to enhance the environment through tree planting and local community education, thereby improving habitats for flora and fauna. Through these initiatives, we hope to contribute to the preservation of rare and endangered species. We invite you to join us in planting trees to support and enhance biodiversity preservation.

10 Iconic Flora & Fauna of the Citarum River Basin: A Showcase of Biodiversity (Part 1)

The Citarum River Basin in West Java, one of Trees4Trees’ tree-planting sites, encompasses diverse ecosystems ranging from mountainous regions to coastal areas, supporting a rich tapestry of flora and fauna. While the river shelters numerous fish species, the Citarum River Basin is a home to a wide variety of animals as well as an array of trees and flowering plants, some of which are endemic and iconic to West Java.

Unfortunately, some of these species are listed as endangered and need our contribution to preserve them. Here are some of the iconic flora and fauna that contribute to the biodiversity of the Citarum River Basin.

Animals

The Citarum River shelters over 20 fish species and is home to a wide variety of animals. Birds are the most abundant, with over 300 species residing in the forested areas of the basin. Additionally, the ecosystem also provides habitat for amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and insects.

Javan hawk-eagle (Elang Jawa)

The Javan hawk-eagle is a medium-sized raptor bird with dark brown feathers and a magnificent crest on its head. It holds the distinction of being Indonesia’s national bird and is the emblematic symbol of Garuda Pancasila. Commonly referred to as Garuda, reminiscent of the bird-like creature in Hindu and Buddhist mythology, this species is one of the rarest raptors and is classified as endangered. The Javan hawk-eagle prefers habitats with rasamala trees and primarily feeds on rats.

Black-crowned night heron

This nocturnal bird is characterized by its black bluish head, resembling a crown. Its diet includes fish, frogs, water insects, small snakes, and rats, which reside in river streams, ponds, rice fields, and swamps. These birds commonly live alongside the Javan pond heron (blekok sawah) and cattle egret (kuntul kerbau), which also inhabit the Citarum Basin. Unfortunately, the species is now rarely found, and their existence cannot be traced due to habitat loss caused by the devastation surrounding the Citarum Basin.

Sunda pangolin (Trenggiling)

This mammal has distinctive keratin scales covering its skin, resembling armor. Its diet consists of insects, particularly ants and termites, and it lives in hollow trees or burrows, relying on tree cover for its habitat. The Sunda pangolin is currently classified as critically endangered due to facing dual threats: habitat loss and being highly hunted and eaten.

Sunda slow loris

This mammal, the Sunda slow loris, is a protected primate listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Its existence in the wild is primarily threatened by habitat loss and hunting for the pet trade. The species has a slow reproductive rate and prefers forests with high, dense canopies, such as rainforests, bamboo groves, and mangrove forests. As climbers, they are highly dependent on trees for their behavior and survival.

Javan gibbon

The silvery gibbon, or Javan gibbon, is a native primate to the island of Java, Indonesia. This species prefers to inhabit undisturbed rainforests at altitudes of up to 2,450 meters. It is listed as an endangered species. Habitat destruction on densely populated Java, including the Citarum Basin, continues to reduce the natural range of this species. Many gibbons are also lost to the illegal pet trade.

Continue to read the article on: 10 Iconic Flora & Fauna of the Citarum River Basin: A Showcase of Biodiversity (Part 2)

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A Hub of Biodiversity: Exploring the Citarum

The longest river in West Java, the Citarum is home to thousands of plant species and hundreds of different types of birds and fish. This thriving ecosystem also holds immense cultural and economic value for local communities, but recent losses in biodiversity are impacting lives and livelihoods. Now, with help from Trees4Trees, local people are helping restore the river and secure a more sustainable future for those who rely on the resources it provides.

In this article, we take a closer look at the plants and animals that make the Citarum River Basin such an important hub for biodiversity in West Java. We’ll also explore some of the work being done to preserve these natural treasures and meet the people working on the frontline of conservation.

A Connection to Nature and Culture

The name “Citarum” comes from “ci,” meaning water, and “tarum,” which refers to the indigo tree (known locally as tarum areuy). This species was once a common sight along the banks of the river, where its network of roots helped to stop soil erosion. The tree was also used by local people as an organic fertilizer and a natural dye, giving batik fabrics from West Java a distinctive blueish hue.

However, a combination of development and environmental degradation have made this species increasingly rare. Replaced by synthetic dyes, it has been slowly disappearing from the banks of the river that bears its name.

*(Above) The Tarum areuy tree, which gives the Citarum its name. Photo: Earth.com*

Flora and Fauna: Natural Beauty, Economic Bounty

The Citarum basin is home to over 3,000 flowering plants and 1,000 tree species, many of which are used by local people to make a living. This, includes teak, rasamala, Java olive tree (or kepuh), jamuju, bayur, puspa, and kosambi trees. The sugar palm tree (known locally as tangkal kawung) provides communities with income derived from its sap, fruit, palm fibers, and leaves.

The Citarum river is a haven for around 314 bird species, including the rare, black-crowned night heron, locally known as “kowak malam“. This unique animal shares its home with other bird species such as the slender-billed crow, the common iora, zebra dove, little spiderhunter, cattle egret, and the Javan pond heron. In the river itself, out of the 23 native fish species, only nine remain: hampal, lalawak, beunteur, tagih, kebogerang, lais, lele, lempuk, and gabus. Invasive species like carp and tilapia are increasingly replacing their native cousins.

Biodiversity Bouncing Back: Replanting Trees, Restoring the Citarum

“I was born and raised in one of the villages on the riverbanks of Citarum, and I have personally witnessed the transformation of the Citarum basin,” reveals Tomi Bustomi, Trees4Trees’ West Java Regional Manager and a local resident. According to Tomi, during his childhood, there was an abundance of local fish species here. Nowadays, it is hard to find them in any tributary of the Citarum.

With funding from AstraZeneca and additional support from One Tree Planted, The Trees4Trees is working to rejuvenate degraded lands surrounding the Citarum River. This will involve planting 10 million trees by the end of 2025. As Tomi explains, “This program focuses on rehabilitating degraded lands, particularly in areas prone to landslides, floods, erosion, and water scarcity.“

Armin Mubarok is Trees4Trees’ Impact Officer. He says the program will help reduce erosion rates, mitigate sedimentation, stabilize water flow, and enhance biodiversity. “By planting trees in critical areas devoid of fauna, we expect the return of animal species, such as insects, birds, reptiles, and amphibianes within five to 10 years,” explains Armin. “As the vegetation grows in the riverbanks and the food chain flourishes, biodiversity will thrive.”

The overarching aim of the planting program is to regenerate the region, using biodiversity as barometer of progress. As Tomi explains, “biodiversity is an indicator of ecosystem recovery; our tree planting efforts represent a significant step towards restoring the Citarum to its former glory.”

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Christopher Alexander

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