Karst Maros and Pangkep

Year 2001 has significance for the lovers of karst and environmentalists in South Sulawesi, Section this year one of the region's unique characteristic and this area was unanimously approved by the scientists and cave crawler from 34 countries around the world as an area that has a value of world and urgent to be conserved. This moment is considered as the starting point of significant concern to the continuation of the benefits of the karst area of ​​300,000 hectares which stretches along the eastern district. Maros and Pangkep. The world's attention is at least able to control over-exploitation is only momentary and promotes the interests of a class of people for this.
Maros karst region-Pangkep by geologists belonging Tonasa Formation between the ages of early Miocene to late Miocene, forms of water activity in the area of ​​limestone to form a distinctive landscape .. Based on the study conducted, it turns out this region contains a large mineral resources primarily for Cement and Marble Industry and the amount of gravel and sand for building purposes. The presence of igneous rock that mengintrusi limestone in some places leads to the metamorphosis of limestone into marble. Intrusion process is partly found in the area Bungoro District. Pangkep and Leang-leang in Maros regency.
Until now carrying two cement industries operating in Maros Karst Area Pangkep Tonasa Cement Industry is located in two places in the districts. Pangkep with a total area of ​​approximately 1354.7 ha or less over 25% of the Kars region in Kab. Pangkep and Bosowa Cement Industry (Children Bosowa Group Company) operating since 1988 in line also received addition Maros karst region with an area of ​​720 ha for a business license. Other than that listed 24 companies have been pocketing isin marble with area businesses kelolah between 15-25 acres. Exploitation of mineral marble is concentrated in two places, namely in the District Bungoro Pangkep district and in the village of Leang-leang in Maros regency. Marble industry has been authorized to operate them is PT. Citatah Corporation ...... in District District Bungoro Pangkep and PT. Sulawesi, PT Bosowa Mining, PT. Makassar Langgaulaweng Leang-Leang village Maros regency. Average effort isin this marble company ranged between 15 -25 hectares.
Environmental impact can be seen directly in the field caused by physical changes in the industry is the area into a barren area of ​​desert rock. The expansion of such damage will be growing in line with the activity of the plant and will also be accompanied by air pollution due to dust. Not including the possibility of potential social impacts created by the residents living around the factory area. which in turn will raise the vertical conflict between communities and companies, because in fact most of the industry does not care about the welfare of society.
Karst denudation of forest cover will also continue with a reduced ability to absorb and store water that is known as a source of support for people living Pangkep Maros and especially for the provision of clean water.
Concerns over the preservation of the Maros karst region Pangkep quite reasonable because there are indications that most of these mining companies are not equipped with a recovery plan after the destruction of land (Document EIA). Tract of land plant operations will not be what? . Simple questions like this should not be difficult to answer by a company that is equipped with environmental impact analysis documents, but in a field visit conducted by the MPA as one of Indonesia to the cement industry in the Maros, the answer is far from the expected even seem ridiculous. Government in this regard Bapedalda also unable to provide satisfactory answers to similar questions.
Physical damage alone, may not quite be the motive for our concern compared to the amount donated by the company's contribution to revenue (PAD) is concerned. Or how many workers are capable of accommodating the company. However, keep in mind that this area holds the potential biodipersity invaluable, even long before the destruction began to be felt, the government wisely has set up several places in the Maros karst region Pangkep as conservation areas, including CA. Bantimurung, CA. Karaenta. And TWA and TWA pattunuang Bantimurung Asue in Kab. Maros and CA. Bulusaraung in the District. Pangkep.
One goal of conservation is to protect several endemic species of Flora and Fauna Inhabiting the region known as Kars Maros Pangkep Black Ape (Macaca maura), (Penelopides exahatus), Large Sulawesi hornbill (Rhyticerus cassedix), Couscous Sulawesi (Phalanger celebencis), Bear cuscus (Phalanger ursius), Weasel Sulawesi (Macrogolidia messenbraecki) Sulawesi hornbill, Ebony Wood (Diospyrus celebica) as well as dozens of species of insects (Butterflies), which include some rare and endemic.


Such protective measures should be able to preserve the diversity of fauna, especially the status plora endemic, but the reality in this conservation area was not immune from the threat of damage. Call such a TWA Bantimurung so popular with butterfly diversity. The fact now Bantimurung butterfly populations declined drastically due to illegal and uncontrolled fishing. Ironically wild catch is sold freely and cheap to visitors in the region.
Is not this the fate of Insecta family needs serious attention if you do not like nicknames as The Kingdom Of Butterfly for Bantimurung be in name and history alone. At least the function of breeding butterflies that have enabled the region and is optimized to compensate for the rate of mortality due to habitat degradation and illegal arrests.
Management of irregularities Natural Park became one of the main causes so much damage arising almost all tourist attractions in the area suffered much damage, so the tour packages offered by nature to be unattractive. Perguaan region (Endo karst) are very sensitive to human interaction were also subjected to exploitation keparawisataan without prior feasibility study, so that in a short time, some caves are offered as a tourist attraction suffered severe damage both biologically and aesthetically. One reason is the traffic intensity is too high and the lack of adequate knowledge of ethics by tracing both much less visitors of trustees. Usually the end is left without a companion that understands search the ethics of a search of the cave.
Now if we go like tourist caves in the Cave of Dreams Bantimurung or caves in the TWA Pattunuang Asue do not expect to see the beauty of the cave ornaments or distinctive fauna that live in perpetual darkness, because it was filled with graffiti that is not pleasing to the eye and the unique fauna of the cave itself has disappeared somewhere.
Amid serubuan various interests such as these, the idea of ​​setting up large areas of karst Maros National Park Bantimurung Pangkep as-Bulusaraung. National Rescue idea of ​​God's presence is expected to answer komplik between economic and conservation interests that should be run side by side. Hopefully the National Park's future is not just a mere name. Do not let the karst hills was shattered so rock ....!