Lesson from Wetland Flowers at Ranca Upas

Wetland flowers help to indicate that a wetland ecosystem is doing well.

When these flowers are damaged, the ecological system is disrupted. All parties should learn from the case of Ranca Upas and avoid making the same mistake.

The condition of the flowering wetland grass with the botanical name Eriocaulon brownianum Mart. was widely discussed in the country in early March 2023. The flowering grass, which grows in Ranca Upas, Bandung regency, West Java, were run over and uprooted by the big wheels of trail bikes. In fact, their existence is unique, offering biodiversity that cannot be easily found in all wetlands in this country.The damage resulted from the havoc wrought by the cross-country motorcycling in Ranca Upas on Sunday (5/3/2023). Thousands of trail bikes with muddy wheels crushed through the expanse of grass, woods and wetland flowers.The environmentally destructive activity enraged Supriatna, 44, commonly known as Uprit. The area of wetland flowers he had maintained was destroyed. The man’s fury went viral on social media.“I was emotional and I apologize if anybody was offended. I was told to look at the area of wetland flowers that had been ravaged due to human activity. I hope there will be no more such occurrences in the future,” Uprit said after replanting seedlings and a number of trees in the area in Ranca Upas on Tuesday (14/3/2023).

KOMPAS/MACHRADIN WAHYUDI RITONGA

A number of deer looking for food and playing in the captive area, Ranca Upas, Bandung regency, West Java, Tuesday (14/3/2023).