Designing interpretation tracks for nature tourism in Tahura Gunung Menumbing, West Bangka

Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Gunung Menumbing is a well-known protected area in West Bangka, Indonesia, and a popular heritage site for its old historical house located at the top of the mountain that was used by the Dutch to isolate the founding fathers of the Republic Indonesia during the war era. Although it has been a popular tourism site, many potential attractions in Tahura Gunung Menumbung are still unexplored. This research aimed to design interpretation tracks for nature tourism in Tahura Gunung Menumbing to increase tourism destination attractiveness. To achieve the research purposes, this research used the combination of field surveys, literature reviews, and interviews. We followed the procedure from the Bureau Land of Management to score the landscape attractiveness. It was found 142 plant species, 61 animal species, and 12 landscape points of interests that were potential to be the interpretation objects. We identified 10 interpretation tracks varied from 160 to 4,200 meter in length and contained 2 – 8 interpretation objects. Six interpretation programs are then proposed, such as Menumbing Jungle Tracks, Tin Mining Explorations, Primates of Menumbing, Snakes to Explore, Menumbing-Belt Adventure, and Menumbing’s landscape and socio-culture.


Introduction
Taman Hutan Raya (Tahura) Gunung Menumbing is a well-known protected area in West Bangka Regency, Indonesia because of the unique plants and animals in it represent the lowland forest ecosystem of Bangka-Belitung Island. Besides having the richness in biodiversity, Tahura Gunung Menumbing (TGM) is also a well-known heritage site for its old historical house locally called pesanggrahan, located at the top of the mountain (± 450 meters above sea level) that was used by the Dutch to exile the founding fathers of the Republic Indonesia such as Ir. Soekarno, Mohammad Hatta, among others, during the war era. Moreover, the landscape in the surrounding of the pesanggrahan is beautiful, where Bangka Strait can be clearly seen along with the Muntok city sceneries. For this reason, TGM has attracted domestic as well as international tourists and become one of the popular tourist destinations in Muntok and thus significantly contributed to the Local Own-Source Revenue (PAD) of West Bangka District.
Even though it has become a popular tourist destination, there are still many potential tourist objects in TGM that have not been explored and optimally managed. According to the West Bangka Regency plan, TGM will be developed as an ecotourism area. In order to develop ecotourism in TGM, nature interpretation activities are needed to gain benefits for both conservation and community in the surrounding area. Through nature interpretation, environmental education can be delivered to educate tourists to respect and appreciate nature and the environment. Nature interpretation uses the interpretation track that will bring tourists to a new experience in understanding nature. The interpretation track will connect several points of interest that contain unique objects and attractions with conservation and environmental messages. The interpretation tracks contain interpretation programs that deliver messages about the natural phenomena, historical values, and geological values, etc. to visitors [1].
This research aims to design nature interpretation tracks in TGM to increase tourism destination attractiveness. We followed guideline from the Bureau Land of Management to score the landscape attractiveness and then developed interpretation programs. The results of this research will be useful for the authorities such as West Bangka Tourism Office and West Bangka Environmental Office to improve both the economy and ecology of TGM. Moreover, through this nature interpretation program, illegal forest encroachment activities in TGM can potentially be minimized due to the provision of alternative income to the community.

Study area
Tahura Gunung Menumbing (±3.333,20 Ha) is administratively located in Muntok sub-district, West Bangka Regency, Bangka Belitung Islands. Geographically, Tahura Gunung Menumbing is located between 105°09'29''-105°14'34'' East Longitude and between 1°59'26''-2°02'29'' North Latitude. The topographical conditions range from flat to very steep slope, with the highest peak reach 450 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.). TGM has A-type climate according to Schmidt-Ferguson climate classification indicating a very wet condition throughout the year with monthly rainfall variations between 0.8 (dry months) to 311.0 mm (wet months). The lowest rainfall occurs in September, while the highest rainfall occurs in January. The average air temperatures ranging between 23.5°-26.5°C, and the air humidity ranges from 57-97%.

Methods
In order to design the interpretation tracks, data were collected by field observations, literature studies, and interviews. These data included natural resources such as flora, fauna, and landscape, and the local culture inside TGM. The potential objects of interpretation were determined based on the types of flora, fauna, and landscape whether they are interesting, rare, and unique that was found along the observation track. Next, for each object, we identified the morphological characteristics and potential attractions. Specific to landscape attractiveness, we used the guideline from the Bureau of Land Management which the assessment of potential landscape was based on landscape elements such as landscape form,  [2]. For the local culture attractiveness, the data were collected by interviewing the TGM manager and the surrounding community.
All the potential objects of interpretation were marked by using GPS (Global Positioning System). Along with the interpretation objects, the interpretation tracks were designed based on the following criteria: the short way to the spectacular objects, existed walking pathways, avoid sensitive plant communities and wildlife habitats, avoid a straight pathway and considering the total time durations [3].

Data analysis
We used a descriptive analysis based on the literature reviews and interviews with the local guides to define all the potential interpretation objects both natural objects and cultural objects. The spatial analysis was carried out using ArcGIS v.10.4 software to create the interpretation track and locate the point of interest. Then, we visualized the interpretation tracks together with its geographic position, topographic conditions, and various other information needed to support the interpretation programs.

Potential nature and culture interpretation objects in the Tahura Gunung Menumbing
We identified floras as many as 142 species of trees, shrubs, palms, orchids and herbs inside the TGM. From this number of floras, a total of 21 species were used as objects of interpretation, including Chalophyllum pulcherimum, Palaquium rostatum, Eurycoma longifolia, Syzygium zeylanicum, Arenga pinnata, Calamus rotang, Dillenia suffruticosa, Mangifera caesia, Calamus manan, Melaleuca leucadendron, Handroanthus chrysotrichus, Ficus exasperata, Ficus annulata, Ficus rumphii, Ficus variegata, Dendrobium leonis, Hevea brasiliensis, Acacia mangium, Pithecellobium jiringa, Parkia speciosa, and Aeschynanthus pulcher. Species of ficus were found scattered along the observation track and were interesting because it has small fruit and grown scattered in the stem (lateralis). In addition, we found an orchid namely Dendrobium leonis that grow well on rocks. Moreover, we found Palaquium rostatum that is the identity flora of Bangka Belitung Island.
Besides floras, we found faunas as many as 16 species of mammals, 30 species of birds, and 15 species of herpetofauna. A total of 19 types were used as objects of interpretation, namely Tarsius [5]. These two species are well-known as the fauna identity of Bangka Belitung Island.
Based on the field observations, we identified at least 12 points of interest that have beautiful landscape sceneries in TGM. Using guideline from the Bureau of Land Management, it was identified that four points of interest have had a medium landscape quality level and eight points have had a high landscape quality level. Four points that have had medium quality such as Post 1 Menumbing, Goa Jepang, Kelekak, and Tahura border, whereas those that have had the high quality were gazebo 3, Pesanggrahan Menumbing, Menumbing slope, TVRI Tower, Menumbing water source, Watervank water source, Argotirta water source, and illegal ex-mining. From these 12 points of interest, Argotirta water source is found to have the highest value since this point has the views of green hills and abundant storage of water.
For the culture potential objects in TGM, the Pesanggrahan Menumbing is the main attraction in TGM where we can see an old historical building, a place of exile for 8 national figures including the founding fathers of the Republic of Indonesia, the first president and vice president, Ir Soekarno and Moh. Hatta during the colonial period. Pesanggrahan Menumbing had also been designated as a cultural heritage in Muntok, West Bangka.   Area boundary interpretation track had 870 meters away and 30 minutes away by foot. The condition of the track was in the form of a footpath that passed through a rubber plantation that could be passed only by foot, however on the side approaching the border of the area marked with cassava vegetation, motorized vehicles can pass it. This track had the object of interpretation of Hevea brasiliensis, Parkia speciosa, Phaenicophaeus curvirostris, Caprimulgus affinis, kelekak landscapes, and Tahura borders.

Discussion
The results show that ten interpretation tracks designed then six interpretation program themes were proposed, namely Menumbing Jungle Tracks, Tin Mining Explorations, Primates of Menumbing, Snakes to Explore, Menumbing Belt Adventure, and Menumbing's landscape and socio-culture. The theme of Menumbing Jungle Tracks was a program that aims to introduce Menumbing's nature resources including flora, fauna and landscapes. This theme was used on post 2 -Menumbing water source track, post 2 -TVRI tower track, post 1 -Watervank water source track, out track Menumbing, and Menumbing circle track. The theme of Tin Mining Explorations used on post 1 -Argotirto water source track aims to introduce forest ecosystems affected by illegal mining and the nature resources were still there. The theme of Primates of Menumbing used in the Menumbing post 1-at the top track aims to introduce primates that could be found in the Tahura Gunung Menumbing (TGM). Topics explored from this theme were the characteristics, behavior and distribution of these primates. The theme of the Snakes to Explore located in the top -Menumbing water source track aims to introduce the snakes around the Menumbing guesthouse that they could identify the types of snakes, their habitats, and their handling. The theme of Menumbing Belt Adventure used in the border line of this area to introduce tahura area and the surrounding vegetation. Finally, the theme of Menumbing's landscape and socio-culture was used in the post 1 -Pavilion 1 track, which aims to introduce history in the area as well as stories that live in the community and points that had interesting natural scenery. The six themes form a core that