Conservation Strategy of Rafflesia zollingeriana Koord in Meru Betiri National Park , East Java

Rafflesia zollingeriana Koorders is a protected, rare, and endemic plants to Meru Betiri National Park. However, its population was declined. So, the study was focused on the analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of conservation of R. zollingeriana to recommend some conservation's strategy and programs. This study was conducted at Meru Betiri National Park and its surrounding 5 villages. Data were collected by interviews, survey, observations, and literature studies. Qualitative data was analyzed by reduction, presentation and drawing conclusions simultaneously, while the quantitative data was analyzed descriptively. Matrix for SWOT analysis was processed by SPSS 16. The result showed that there were 4 elements that identified as strength, 5 elements that identified as weakness, 5 elements that identified as opportunity and 4 elements that identified as threat. The internal factor's value was higher than the external factor. The result of the SWOT analysis indicated that it needs aggresive strategy through collaboration among stakeholders to optimize both strength and opportunites. While the recommended program are: socialization the importance of R. zollingeriana conservation and developing a collaborative R. zollingeriana ecotourism.


Introduction
Rafflesia spp is an unique plant because of its large flowers and its presence that only realized when the buds exist and blooming.It was only holoparasit to Tetrastigma spp.(Barkman et al. 2004;Barcelona et al. 2011).Rafflesia spp. is rare because of its small population (Nais 2001).Populations of R. lobata in Mount Igtuog Philippines only 76 individuals (Galang & Madulid 2006).R. manillana population in Mount Makiling is also just 86 individuals (Yahya et al. 2010).Populations of R. arnoldi at 5 locations in West Sumatra only 80 individuals (Syahbuddin & Chairul 2010).Population of R. patma in Leweung Sancang, consist of 96 individuals (Suwartini et al. 2008).
Rafflesia's small population is caused by biological nature and ecological attributes (Susatya 2003), such as low reproductive rate (Nais 2001).From the 1,110 buds were observed by Nais (2001) in 3 years, only 10.18% that succeed to bloome while the proportion of female flowers only 12.39% and the fruit succeeded only 35.71%.The unbalanced sex ratio also indicated by Galang (2006) in R. lobata population.In addition, low reproduction occur because rafflesia is an unisexual (Meijer 1997;Refaei et al. 2011), so its pollination needs insects assistance (Zuhud et al. 1999;Davis et al. 2008;Kahono et al. 2010) and so does its seed dispersal (Bouman & Meijer 1994;Kahono et al. 2010).
Small population is also caused by its low survival ability.Hidayati et al. (2000) founded R. patma in Pangandaran that consist of 44% died knobs, 49% alive buds, and 7% blooming flower.Thousands of rafflesia that observed by Nais in Malaysia also showed high death rate before blooming until 90% (Milius 1999).
External factors such as fragmentation and habitat destruction were also pressured rafflesia's small population.R. patma population in Leweung Sancang was decreased, from 256 individuals (Priatna et al. 1989) in 5 areas to 96 individuals in 9 areas due to logging and deforestation (Suwartini et al. 2008).While population R. banahaw in the Philippines declined because of landslides and typhoons (Barcelona et al. 2007).
Among of those 30 species, 16 species are distributed in Indonesia.R. patma, R. rochussenii and R. zollingeriana are distributed in Java Island.R. zollingeriana less distributed than the other two species.It was only distributed in Betiri Meru National Park (MBNP) and only grows in dry lowland forest, at an altitude of 1-270 m above sea level.R. zollingeriana was known with the local names patmosari.It was used for traditional medicine and collected ilegally by the local people (Zuhud 1989), so its population is vulnerable to extinction.
Rafflesia is able to live in primary and secondary forests (Zuhud 1989;Syahbudin & Chairul 2010).Therefore, to sustaining its population, the forest ecosystem should be save in a primary state.Thus, save rafflesia will increase the motivation to save the whole ecosystem.
Conservation status of R. zollingeriana is rare (Wiriadinata 2001) or R (rare) by WCMC (2013).While Susatya (2011) categorized it to CR (critical endangered).Rafflesia spp.also designated as a protected plant in Indonesia according to Government Regulation No. 7/1999.By Betiri Meru National Park Authority (MBNPA).R. zollingeriana has been designated as a species whose habitat is protected and nurtured (BTNMB 2003).However, reality showed that R. zollingeriana in TNMB population continues to decline.In 1988, the population of rafflesia found in 8 locations, while in 2003, the population can only be found in 3 locations (Hikmat 2006).
Along with its declining populations, there is a challenge ie: lack of its scientific information.So, the population of R. zollingeriana should be saved for research and assessment study.This is in accordance with the principle "Save it, Study it and Use it" in the Convention on the Conservation of Biodiversity.An ecosystem or a species has to saved before extinct and assessment of its usefulness should be done for the improvement of human welfare (Putro et al. 2012).The effective strategy to maintain the sustainability of R. zollingeriana population is required.This strategy can be formulated if the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that have been made during the conservation are identified and evaluated.

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The study was conducted at Meru Betiri National Park and 5 villages surrounding (Wonoasri, Curahnongko, Andongrejo, Sanenrejo, and Sarongan), during January to December 2012.Data were collected by interviews, surveys, observations, and literature study.Interviews were conducted to MBNPA staff, academist, activists nature lovers, non government organization (NGO) activists, and government staff.While the survey was conducted to 157 ethods local people that living in MBNP and its surrounding.These respondents are dominated by farmer (61.15%).Observations carried out in Sukamade and Krecek permanent plots.Qualitative data was analyzed by reduction, presentation, and drawing conclusions simultaneously.Quantitative data analyzed descriptively.SWOT analysis conducted by identifying the internal and external factors, then weighting, ranking and scoring of each elements (Maintindom et al. 2006).SWOT matrix to determine strategy is processed by SPSS 16.

Results and Discussion
Meru Betiri Management at the 1970s until 1996 more focused on the protection and preservation for the java tiger than R. zollingeriana conservation.There was no specific regulation that ruled knob collection activity, so the sustainability of the R. zollingeriana was threatened.After became a national park and run by MBNPA, monitoring of R. zollingeriana and habitat protection (BTNMB 2003) are started.Data collection and routine observations in Krecek and Sukamade plots also being conducted and published in a book (Darmadja et al. 2011).In 2010, R. zollingeriana habitat in Krecek and Sukamade were made into permanent plots for education, research, and nature tourism.Railings, stairs, signage, and information boards about R. zollingeriana were built on the plot.Guiding from MBNPA officers were also given for visiting tourists.The existence of R. zollingeriana as a tourism attraction also socialized in MBNPA's brochures and website.
However, those conservation efforts are still dominated by MBNPA.Interviews showed no involvement from the other stakeholders and the R.zollingeriana tourism did not developed optimally.Number of visiting tourists was still low.From 640,492 visiting tourists to Jember (BPS 2011) and 443,938 to Banyuwangi (BPS 2011), visiting number to MBNP only 4,402 tourists (85.85% of them are domestic tourists).The visitor number of R. zollingeriana was predicted much lower.The survey respondents who knew that R. zollingeriana can be visited by tourist only reached 29.94% and the number of respondents who involved in this tourism activity only 12.10%.
Table 1 showed that populations of R. zollingeriana in TNMB were decline.Therefore, more effective strategies of R. zollingeriana conservation should be formulated through SWOT analysis.
Table 1 Number of R. zollingeriana in observation plots 1) Hikmat (1988) in Lestari (2013); 2) Zuhud (1989); 3) Lestari (2013).Number of plots above are variated because the wide of forest area that has been explored by researchers are variated (Figure 2).Plots was purposively made based on R. zollingeriana existence at the observation.SWOT analysis SWOT analysis is needed to identify and evaluate internal and external factors of R. zollingeriana conservation.Identification results showed that there were 4 elements of R. zollingeriana conservation strength, such as: 1 MBNP is a habitat for endemic R. zollingeriana R. zollingeriana is an unique rare and endemic species in MBNP (Darmadja et al. 2011).With its limited distribution, R. zollingeriana was more deserved to be a priority of conservation than the other species.This species conservation will also increase motivation to conserve the whole ecosystem in MBNP (Zuhud 1988 There are a lot enclaves in the national park.Some of their residence are close to R. zollingeriana habitat.If they did not involved in R. zollingeriana conservation, they did not know the importance of its conservation to their life and did not get any economic benefit from it, they tend to disobey it and exploit its knobs as before.Although knob collecting activity are decrease significantly now, but it is a temporary condition.If the knob price getting higher as before, those activity will rise again and the sustainability of R. zollingeriana populations will being threatened.3 Low income levels and lower productivity of agricultural activities in the rehabilitation land Most of the local people surrounding of MBNP are peasants.So, their live are so depend to forest especially with the MBNP rehabilitation program that allowed them to do shifting cultivation in deforestation land.This activities adding their total revenue up to 21.45% (Suharti 2004).But this percentage is expected to be smaller and smaller because productivity of the seasonal agricultural decreases.If their revenue was lower and lower, the possibility to re-gather of R. zollingeriana knob will rise again.4 The remaining request of R. zollingeriana for traditional medicine Demand of knob R. zollingeriana for herbs still remaining.In Banyuwangi market, R. zollingeriana traded at IDR20,000 kg (LATIN 2002).Actually, the population will stay sustainably if the collection only done on died knobs.
Strategy and program recommendation for the next R. zollingeriana conservation Measurement of the internal and external factors are displayed in Table 2.It shows the internal factors and external factors are positive, but the internal factor's value is higher than the external factors.The matrix in Figure 1 shows that the intersection between the xaxis (internal factors) and the y-axis (external factors) lied in st 1 quadrant.So, the strategy should be taken is an aggressive   guiding is about IDR200,000 people day .
Local people participation is possible because their willingness to involve in this tourism activity is high (74.52%).However, only 51.59% of them who know how to develop the R. zollingeriana ecotourism.Therefore, participation other stakeholders: private (tourist practitioner: travel agencies), NGOs, and the department of tourism, who are experienced in the planning and implementation of tourism programs are needed.They are needed to participate in local people capacity building.To develop ecotourism, MPNPA staff and local people competence need to be improved with some English language training, hospitality tourism training, souvenirs manufacture training, and R. zollingeriana training.Information about R. zollingeriana blooming, especially when it can be visited must be updated regularly in MBNP's website.So does with the visiting procedures i.e. list of do and do not do at site.This information should be accessed any t i m e .C o n t a c t n u m b e r e n l i s t e d i n w e b s i t e www.merubetiri.commust be contacted freely, both in the Indonesian and foreign language.Permanent plots must be furnished with a complete and interesting information so the visitor can get comprehensive information even they can not see R. zollingeriana blooming directly.

Conclusion
SWOT analysis showed that internal factor's value was higher than the external factor.Strategy that need to be developed is an aggressive strategy, optimizing strength through collaboration so that opportunities can be utilized optimally.While the recommended program are: socialization the importance of of R. zollingeriana conservation and developing a collaborative R. zollingeriana ecotourism.
Limited knowledge of local people about R. zollingeriana -R.zollingeriana habitat are close to residential of local people -Low income levels of local people and their agricultural productivity in the rehabilitation areas are lower and lower -R.zollingeriana request for traditional medicine is remaining 0Factor Analysis Summary; EFAS= External Factor Analysis Summary strategy: optimizing the strength so that opportunities can be optimally utilized.This strength can be optimized through collaboration with the other stakeholders.Next conservation programs that recommended are: 1 Socialization the importance of R. zollingeriana conservation to increase stakeholders awareness Collaboration with community, other agencies, and organizations are needed to optimize conservation.To establish collaboration, mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual benefit among stakeholders are needed (Putro et al. 2012).Stakeholders will collaborate if you already have an equivalent knowledge and understanding of the importance of conservation of R. zollingeriana.So the importance of R. zollingeriana conservation must be socialized massively through various mass media in international, national, and local level.At the local level, MBNPA have to hold a workshop that discussing the ecologic and economic benefit of R. zollingeriana conservation.This meeting involves local people, the rafflesia researcher, nature lover organization, local government, and relevant agencies such as BKSDA, local forestry services, local agency of tourism department, etc. Information about the blooming R. zollingeriana must been arranged in many medias, such as audiovisual media (local and national TV broadcasting) and social networks like facebook, twitter, instagram, and youtube.This information have to available in Indonesian and foreign languages.R. zollingeriana should be an icons and identity flora of the MBNP to increase stakeholders awareness.It is worth to be MBNPA logo, complements javan tiger logo, because of its scarcity and endemism reason. 2 Developing a collaborative R. zollingeriana ecotourism R. zollingeriana ecotourism have to involve the local people.If the local people get a higher income from R. zollingeriana, their motivation to sustain its populations of will increase.It is like what happened in Malaysia (Nais 1998).Ecotourism considered have more economic benefit than the other utilization.Revenue -1 from the knobs collection is IDR10,000 kg dry knob.While the revenue from homestay service and tourist -1 -1

Figure 1
Figure 1 SWOT matrix of R. zollingeriana conservation in Meru Betiri National Park.
LATIN 2002)and there has been no formal handling and control efforts to its traders and manufacturers 4 The low survival rate and regeneration of R. zollingeriana about Rafflesia spp., but laws enforcement is lacking.There is no operation rule that stated about R. zollingeriana specifically, so the ilegal collectors of R. zollingeriana knobs are handling informally.The R. zollingeriana knobs trading in Banyuwangi market still remains (

Table 2
IFAS dan EFAS of R. zollingeriana conservation in Meru Betiri National Park