Sermo Wildlife Reserve Management Block in Kulon Progo

by. R. Danang Wijayanto

Sermo Wildlife Reserve (WR) is one of the nature reserve areas (KSA) under the
management of the Yogyakarta Natural Resources Conservation Center (KSDA) which has
been determined through a Decree (SK) of the Minister of Environment and Forestry
Number. SK. 3112 /Menhut-VII/KUH /2014 concerning that the Determination of Sermo
Wildlife Reserve Forest Area covers 184.990 Ha in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta , as
a conservation area with a wildlife reserve status. Sermo Wildlife Reserve has the main
function as an ideal area for preservation of plant and animal and its ecosystem which
also functions as a life support. Realizing this, efforts are needed to protect and develop
the population and habitat of wild species and / or wildlife diversity.
Not only as an area of protection and guidance for wildlife populations and habitats,
Sermo (WR) area also provides non-forestry land-use activities that accommodate public
interests, including: road accessibility, PDAM building, Sermo Reservoir Management
Office (Central River Region Serayu Opak, Ministry of public work), Wisma Asri Sermo
(Tourism Office), and others. So that in order to achieve effective and efficient
management objectives, which are able to realize an ideal ecology for the existence of
wildlife diversity and in a balanced can help the public interest of society in accordance
with the applicable regulations, Sermo SM Management Block is needed. The following is
a general description of the Sermo (WR) conservation area :

1. Location
Administratively, SM Sermo is located between three villages from two different
sub-districts, namely Hargowilis Village and Hargorejo Village in Kokap Subdistrict, and
Karangsari Village in Pengasih Subdistrict, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta. Geographically the
location of Semo (WR) is as follows :

a. North : 7° 49’ 20,059” LS 110° 7’ 58,277” BT

b. East : 7° 49’ 31,047” LS 110° 08’ 6,785” BT
c. Southern Part : 7° 50’ 20,554” LS 110° 7’ 21,295” BT
d. Western Part : 7° 50’ 19,373” LS 110° 6’ 52,938” BT

Sermo WR is located at 70 m to 100 m above sea level, which lies down on Bukit
Menoreh where on the north of it we can find Waduk Sermo, kind of a water catchment
area and one of the leading tourist destinations in Kulon Progo.
2. Area Accessibility
Sermo WR is easily accessible by private vehicle or by public transportation. The
distance between Sermo and Yogyakarta is ± 35 Km which can be reached in 60 minutes
by route Yogya - Gamping - Sedayu - Sentolo - Wates - Kokap. When using public
transportation , we can use the Yogya - Wates bus, then continue with Wates – Kokap
Bus. The distance between Sermo and Wates City (the capital of Kulon Progo Regency) is
close enough. It is ± 12 Km which can be reached in 20 minutes using a motorbike
through Wates - Kokap. The condition of the road to SM Sermo is quite good, with a
width of ± 4 meters asphalt which divides Sermo WR into several access area that
supports the attractions of Waduk Sermo tourism and public interests.

Picture I. Accessibility to Sermo WR

3. Physical Conditions of Area (geology, soil, and rainfall)

a. Geology
Sermo WR is included in the Menoreh hilly zone (Bukit Menoreh) that lies in the
western region of Kulon Progo Regency or east of Purworejo Regency. The
formation of the Menoreh Mountains is related to the active tectonics formed by
the collision of the Australian plate in the Indian Ocean, moving relatively
northward, pounding into the Eurasian plate. Based on the Geological Map of The
Yogyakarta Sheet, Java in 1995, the geology of Sermo WR is included in the
 Kebobutak Formation composed of andesite breccia, tuff, tuff lapilli, agglomerates
and inserts of andesite lava flow and some parts of Sentolo Formation which
composed of limestone and sandstone sand.
b. Soil
The type of soil in Sermo is Latosol, this type of soil has the characteristics of:
having clay content of more than 60%, same soil color, plain terrain, bumpy to
pile up, generally volcanic main material both tuffs and igneous rocks that have
weathered Intensively and has run into washing of alkaline elements, organic
matter and silica, clay texture to turbidity, crumb structure to weak lumps, and
loose consistency. This type of soil comes from the main rock breccia.
c. Rainfall
Based on isohyet maps, the value of Rainfall patterns in Kulon Progo area will
increase according to increasing altitude of location (orographic rain). Based on
the rainfall distribution pattern and regional topography, it can be seen that there
is a relationship between the height of the place and the amount of rainfall, where
higher areas in topography will have greater rainfall. Based on the Bappeda
Rainfall Map of Kulon Progo Regency, it is known that the Sermo WR area is
included in the category of high intensity rainfall.

4. Structuring the Sermo WR Management Block.

The division of the Sermo SM management block is guided by the Minister of
Environment and Forestry Regulation Number. P.76 / Menlhk-Setjen / 2015 Regarding
Criteria for Management Zones of National Parks and Block Management of Nature
Reserves. Wildlife Sanctuary, Forest Park and Nature Park. Based on these regulations,
and the results of data processing, consideration of ecological aspects, and real conditions
in the Sermo WR area, Yogyakarta KSDA Hall divides the Sermo WR management block
into 4 (four) blocks, which are: protection blocks, utilization blocks, rehabilitation blocks,
and special blocks . The area of each block is presented in the table as follows :

Width
No Management Block Consideration
(Ha)
1 Protection 145,138 Vegetation density, animal habitat for deer, jungle cats,
partridge, etc.
2 Utilization 7,052 Open Area , Bamboo arboretum as an educational tour.
3 Rehabilitation 27 RHL Plant in 2011 by the Opak Progo Serayu Watershed
Office ( Balai DAS SOP)
 4 Special 5,8 Non-Forestry Land Use:
Sermo Asri guesthouse, camping ground, reservoir
management office, PDAM, RPH office (based on MoU
with characteristics of buildings that have stood before
the settlement of the area), and road access.

a. Protection Block
Based on the results of data processing and considerations related to the physical
condition of the area, Yogyakarta KSDA Office determined the Protection Block in
Sermo has an area of 145,138 Ha or 78.46% of the entire Sermo WR area, which is
located in most of the Sermo WR area. The area is an area of protection for the
habitat of deer, jungle cats, partridge, and is a distribution area of various species of
birds.
b. Utilitazation Block
The utilization block in Sermo WR has an area of 7.052 Ha or 3.81% of the area of
Sermo WR. This block consists of an open area that is considered strategic to carry
out activities that support the management of Sermo WR such as: Fire Alert
simulation, besides this utilization block also consists of bamboo arboretum area
which means of education and research on bamboo species.
c. Rehabilitation Block
Rehabilitation block is part of the area that is damaged and needed to restore its
habitat according to its initial conditions to support the improve its carrying capacity.
The priority for rehabilitation is an area with high damage pressure and vulnerable /
critical areas. The Rehabilitation Block in WR Sermo covers an area of 27 Ha or
around 14.59% of the total area of WR sermo, where that area had been restored
done by Balai DAS Serayu Opak Progo 2011.

d. Special Block
Special Block is part of WR which due to unavoidable conditions, there have been
community groups and life support facilities that lived before the area was designated
as a wildlife reserve, including the existence of permanent buildings,
telecommunications facilities, transportation and electricity facilities, and others which
is crucial. The Special Block in Sermo SM is a form of non-forest land use intended to
accommodate the needs and interests of the parties, including: Wisma Asri Sermo
Building, PDAM Kulon Progo Building, Reservoir Management Office (Kemen PU), and
others. The Special Block area in Sermo is 5.8 Ha, or 3.14% of the Sermo WR area.

Picture 2. Sermo WR block Management Map