
Wain River protection forest is a primary rain forest in the middle of Balikpapan city and serves as a source clean water for locals
Wain River forest – a primary rain forest in the
middle of Balikpapan
Stretching through the middle of Balikpapan, it’s the only miniature
primary and secondary virgin forest in East Borneo.
The Wain River forest is in the northern part of Balikpapan, East
Borneo. Its a conservation and research area with diverse life forms and
extraordinary tourism potential. This is a lowland forest with three forest
types: marsh forest, dipterocarp forest, and riverine forest. The forest area
was first designated a “covered forest” by the King of the Kutai kingdom in
1934. Then in 1983 the 3,925 hectares area surrounding the Wain River was
declared a protected forest by the Minister of Agriculture.
In 1988, the Forestry Minister designated a further 6,100 hectares at
Wain River as protected forest, bringing the total protected area to 10,025 hectares.
Since then it has en large to 11,000 hectares by Indonesian government.
The Wain River forest serves as a source of clean water for both the
residents of Balikpapan and the needs of the oil industry of Pertamina. This
lowland forest covers a limited area, its home for many creatures rarely found
elsewhere, including sun bears and no less than nine species of primates. Such
as silvery gibbons, proboscis monkeys, orangutan, black leaf monkeys, pig
tailed monkeys, and macaques.
The orangutans that inhabit this forest were released back into the wild
by Borneo Orangutan Survival (BOS) gradually starting in the early 1990, at
least around 80 individuals in all. The forest is also the habitat of many bird
and insect species.
The forest also contains many lowland plant species, including several
rare species, such as various types of pitcher plants, orchids, and original
Balikpapan ginger (Etlingera Balikpapanences), which is found only in this
forest.
Exploring the Wain River Protected Forest
Explorations
began with a view of a large, calm reservoir, which immediately transfer from
the noise and pollution of the city. This reservoir provides the clean water
supply for the Pertamina housing complex and the oil refinery in Balikpapan,
derives from two rivers. The Wain and the Bugis river, which flow through the Wain
River Forest area. The fresh air and the panorama of the forest are very
relaxing and the bird songs further enhance this feeling.
There are 400 meters long
trail along a wooden bridge that runs past the Sungai Wain reservoir into the
forest to start the trek. The dense forest is full of large trees to observe
and study. Some ants passed into large group nest in a large moss-covered tree
and saw many small, rare creatures. This particular trail has a wide variety of
trees and if you’re lucky you can see larger creatures, such as proboscis
monkeys and macaque.
The sing of the bird
is everywhere. The forest is so dense that it’s very easy to get lost if you’re
not accompanied by a forest ranger. This 8-kilometer trail takes five or six
hours and takes you through a large part of the Wain River Protected Forest
ecotourism area, with the possibility of encountering orangutans and sun bears;
there are around 60 sun bears in the forest. Another, even more challenging
trail takes at least two days.
So with all the
creatures inside the Wain River forest, it’s a time to challenge your self.
Come to Balikpapan and explore the Wain River forest. Contact us at kiswono@kalimantantourguide.com
for more detail.
Visiting Dayak village and joining the traditional dancer, experience the local tasty food and amazing nature.
Joint the bamboo rafting adventure through the clear water and beautiful nature of Loksado river, Banjarmasin.
Explore Borneo’s jungle to find wild orangutan and another amazing animal at Kutai National Park, East Kalimantan
About Us
Vision & Mission
Team
Philosophy
Brand
Get latest news from our website
by filling this subcsribe form
© 2023 Borneo Tour Guide. All Rights Reserved. Site by Awan Design